Associative
pertaining to or resulting from association.
tending to associate or unite.
Mathematics, Logic.
(of an operation on a set of elements) giving an equivalent expression when elements are grouped without change of order, as (a + b) + c = a + (b + c).
having reference to this property:
associative law of multiplication.
Contemporary Examples
Certain professors see a chance to benefit from this associative taint.
The Professor of Hip-Hop: Adam Bradley’s Poetic Mission Nick Romeo September 16, 2012
I mean, instead, a mind that is thoughtful, curious, with a discernable pattern of associative thinking and insight.
Sarah Palin’s a Brainiac Elaine Lafferty October 26, 2008
Who is Friedman’s source (and, by the associative property, Shapiro’s)?
Hagel Tied To Junior League of Hezbollah Ali Gharib February 19, 2013
Historical Examples
Now it is fair to the farmer to admit that his calling does not lend itself readily to associative action.
The Rural Life Problem of the United States Horace Curzon Plunkett
Without this power of associative memory we would not be able to reason.
Plain English Marian Wharton
A further misunderstanding is apt to be caused by Kants statement that associative affinity rests upon objective affinity.
A Commentary to Kant’s ‘Critique of Pure Reason’ Norman Kemp Smith
The sensory and motor mechanism has ripened, but not the associative.
Appletons’ Popular Science Monthly, January 1899 Various
These are examples of the associative law for multiplication ( 58 (iv)).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 Various
Or would the thoughts be true if they had no associative or impulsive tendencies?
The Meaning of Truth William James
The matter, therefore, in which associative imagination can be shown is 11.
Modern Painters Volume II (of V) John Ruskin
adjective
of, relating to, or causing association or union
(maths, logic)
being independent of the grouping of numbers, symbols, or terms within a given set, as in conjunction or in an expression such as (2 × 3) × 4 = 2 × (3 × 4)
referring to this property: the associative laws of arithmetic
adj.
1812, from associate (v.) + -ive.
associative
(ə-sō’shə-tĭv)
Of or relating to the property of an operation, such as addition or multiplication, which states that the grouping of numbers undergoing the operation does not change the result. For example, 3 + (4 + 5) is equal to (3 + 4) + 5. See also commutative, distributive.
Read Also:
- Associative array
associative array programming (Or “hash”, “map”, “dictionary”) An array where the indices are not just integers but may be arbitrary strings. awk and its descendants (e.g. Perl) have associative arrays which are implemented using hash coding for faster look-up. (2007-10-02)
- Associative cortex
noun (anatomy) the part of the cortex that does not have direct connections to the senses or motor system and is thought to be involved in higher mental processes
- Associative learning
associative learning associative learning n. A learning principle based on the belief that ideas and experiences reinforce one another and can be mentally linked to enhance the learning process.
- Associative memory
associative memory content addressable memory Historical Examples No wonder that the associative memory has to be most carefully cultivated in golf. The Soul of Golf Percy Adolphus Vaile Without this power of associative memory we would not be able to reason. Plain English Marian Wharton
- Associative neuron
associative neuron associative neuron n. A nerve cell that is within the central nervous system and that links sensory and motor neurons.