operating vs operative

operating is not a noun while operative is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
operating	No	Yes	No	No
operative	Yes	Yes	No	No

operating (noun)	operative (noun)
	someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information and assist in criminal investigations
	a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

operating (adjective)	operative (adjective)
involved in a kind of operation	being in force or having or exerting force
being in effect or operation	relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
	(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
	effective; producing a desired effect