( BrE also co-operative ) / kəʊˈɒpərətɪv; NAmE koʊˈɑːp-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] involving doing sth together or working together with others towards a shared aim :
Cooperative activity is essential to effective community work.
2.
helpful by doing what you are asked to do :
Employees will generally be more cooperative if their views are taken seriously.
OPP uncooperative
3.
[ usually before noun ] ( business ) owned and run by the people involved, with the profits shared by them :
a cooperative farm
► co·opera·tive·ly ( BrE also co-operatively ) adverb
■ noun
a cooperative business or other organization :
agricultural cooperatives in India
The factory is now a workers' cooperative.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from late Latin cooperativus , from Latin cooperat- worked together, from the verb cooperari , from co- together + operari to work..