形容词
1. 运作（或运转）着的；起作用的；产生影响的
A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect.
2. 工人；（尤指）技工，操作员
An operative is a worker, especially one who does work with their hands.
3. 特工；间谍；密探；情报人员
An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service.
4. 关键词
If you describe a word as the operative word, you want to draw attention to it because you think it is important or exactly true in a particular situation.
1. someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
Synonym: private detectivePIprivate eyeprivate investigatorshamussherlock
2. a person secretly employed in espionage for a government