/op"euhr euh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , n. , pl. operatories , adj.
n.
1. a room or other area with special equipment and facilities, as for dental surgery, scientific experiments, or the like.
adj.
2. operative.
[ 1645-55; OPERATE + -ORY 1 , -ORY 2 ; cf. LL operatorius working, acting ]