To shorten a delivery time of data between words (PE) separated via a distance, by setting a clock multiplication circuit.

A clock system of the associative memory is impressed as it is to a word 11, a mask register 13, etc., by a clock distribution line 19 fed from a clock input part 18. In a shift mode, a clock from the clock input part 18 is passed through a clock multiplication circuit 20, multiplied N times (N is an optional integer not smaller than 2), and fed to a hit flag register 17. In other modes than the shift mode, the clock from the clock input part 18 is fed as it is. The clocks are switched by a control signal fed from a clock switch control input part 21.