Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To engage in free association.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb (psychoanalysis) to express one's thoughts, ideas, impressions, etc. in an unplanned and unstructured way, allowing each thought or idea to prompt recollection of the next one. It is a process used in psychotherapy.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb associate freely
Etymologies
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Examples
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And you could see why – watching his rendition of Crazy Little Thing Called Love was like watching a barely sentient toddler nervously free-associate to himself.
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I did this guided meditation thingy from Anodea Judith, which I loved because at the end of the meditation, you have to kind of free-associate with your art supplies and words about the state of your chakra.
Repeat After Me: My Body Is Not My Enemy « Looking for Roots 2009
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We all need time to free-associate, think creatively, make plans, analyze a complex work or personal problem.
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD: How To Market Exercise To Those Who Aren't Buying It PhD Judith J. Wurtman 2011
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We all need time to free-associate, think creatively, make plans, analyze a complex work or personal problem.
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD: How To Market Exercise To Those Who Aren't Buying It PhD Judith J. Wurtman 2011
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Well, the 52-year-old is of course known for more than just insulting Jews; but since he hasn't acted on screen since M. Night Shyamalan's Signs in 2002 and infamously declared in 2006, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" whilst getting arrested for drunk driving, I can't help but have that as my free-associate for the seasoned Aussie.
Mel Gibson Acting Again in Edge of Darkness « FirstShowing.net 2008
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Let me just free-associate here: arm cuffs, hair falls, stove-top jeans, mini-mod dresses.
Piper Weiss: My Mom The Style Icon: A Tribute to Fashionable Mothers (PHOTOS) Piper Weiss 2010
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“Just go ahead and free-associate whatever comes to mind.”
Dark Oracle Alayna Williams 2010
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They could argue, berate, complain, insult, opine, free-associate, joke around, and revel in their ability to entertain one other as a completely anonymous collective.
Meet Hiroyuki Nishimura, the Bad Boy of the Japanese Internet « Isegoria 2008
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INSKEEP: When people think of Tom Waits voice, maybe Norah Jones voice is not the next voice they would they free-associate to?
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INSKEEP: When people think of Tom Waits voice, maybe Norah Jones voice is not the next voice they would they free-associate to?
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