(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.
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Who is Friedman's source (and, by the associative property, Shapiro's)?
Hagel Tied To Junior League of Hezbollah|Ali Gharib|February 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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 27, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Very soon the associative irradiation becomes more complex, and whole groups of emotional reactions are imitated.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
As for the intellectual faculties, women are decidedly superior to men in memory, and possibly more rapid in associative thinking.
Principles of Teaching|Adam S. Bennion
One has always to be careful not to give too much importance to one's own associative fancies in regard to the names of places.
Vanishing Roads and Other Essays|Richard Le Gallienne
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
British Dictionary definitions for associative
associative
/ (əˈsəʊʃɪətɪv) /
adjective
of, relating to, or causing association or union
mathslogic
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 propertythe associative laws of arithmetic
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 commutativedistributive.