Dictionary
associative
adjective as·so·cia·tive \ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv, -sē-, -shə-tiv\
Definition of ASSOCIATIVE
1
: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images
2
: dependent on or acquired by association or learning
3
: of, having, or being the property of combining to the same mathematical result regardless of the grouping of an expression's elements given that the order of those elements is preserved <addition is associative since (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)>
— as·so·cia·tive·ly adverb
— as·so·cia·tiv·i·ty \-ˌsō-shē-ə-ˈti-və-tē, -sē-, -shə-ˈti-\ noun
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First Known Use of ASSOCIATIVE
1804
ASSOCIATIVE Defined for Kids
associative
adjective as·so·cia·tive \ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv, -shə-tiv\
Definition of ASSOCIATIVE for Kids
: relating to or being a property of a mathematical operation (as addition or multiplication) in which the result does not depend on how the elements are grouped <The associative property of addition states that (2 + 3) + 1 and 2 + (3 + 1) will both have a sum of 6.>
Medical Dictionary
associative
adjective as·so·cia·tive \ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ˌāt-iv, -shət-iv\
Medical Definition of ASSOCIATIVE
1
: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images <an associative symbol>
2
a : dependent on or characterized by association <an associative reaction> b : acquired by a process of learning <an associative reflex>
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