1.a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
2.someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
3.being in force or having or exerting force;
operative regulations
4.of or relating to a surgical operation;
operative surgery
5.relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine;
a surgical appendix
6.effective; producing a desired effect;
the operative word
7.(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;
in running (or working) order