associative

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈsoʊ.si.ə.tɪv/ UK /əˈsəʊ.si.ə.tɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #75745

Meanings

1

adj
in mathematics, having the property that regrouping operands does not change the result

Addition is associative because (a + b) + c always equals a + (b + c).
2

adj
relating to the formation of connections between ideas, events, or responses

Associative learning linked the sound of the bell with the arrival of food.
3

adj
in computing, addressed by a key rather than solely by a numerical position

An associative array lets the program retrieve a value by its name.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to the formation... associational

3 adj · in computing, addressed by... keyedcontent-addressable

Opposites

nonassociative

Word family

Derived forms associativelyassociativenessassociativityautoassociativecoassociativeheteroassociativenonassociative

Related forms associate association commutative distributive

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

associative learning
learning that connects one event, stimulus, or action with another

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From associate + -ive. Associate comes from Latin associare ("to join to"), from ad- ("to") + socius ("companion"). The algebraic sense names operations whose operands may be joined into groups without changing the result.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# associative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /əˈsoʊ.si.ə.tɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈsəʊ.si.ə.tɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 75745

## Meanings
1. in mathematics, having the property that regrouping operands does not change the result
2. relating to the formation of connections between ideas, events, or responses
3. in computing, addressed by a key rather than solely by a numerical position

## Examples
- Addition is associative because (a + b) + c always equals a + (b + c).
- Associative learning linked the sound of the bell with the arrival of food.
- An associative array lets the program retrieve a value by its name.

## Synonyms
- associational
- keyed

## Antonyms
- nonassociative

## Derived Forms
- associatively
- associativeness
- associativity
- autoassociative
- coassociative
- heteroassociative
- nonassociative

## Related Forms
- associate
- association
- commutative
- distributive

## Etymology
From associate + -ive. Associate comes from Latin associare ("to join to"), from ad- ("to") + socius ("companion"). The algebraic sense names operations whose operands may be joined into groups without changing the result.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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