Main entry: private detective, private eye, private investigator, PI, operative, shamus, sherlock
Definition: someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
Main entry: operative, intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent
Definition: a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
Main entry: operative
Definition: being in force or having or exerting force
Usage: operative regulations; the major tendencies operative in the American political system
Main entry: functional, operative, running, working
Definition: (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
Usage: in running (or working) order; a functional set of brakes
Main entry: operative, surgical
Definition: relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
Usage: a surgical appendix; a surgical procedure; operative dentistry
Main entry: operative
Definition: effective; producing a desired effect
Usage: the operative word