Definition

1. Verb:

   • To connect or link something with something else in one's mind or thoughts.
   • To spend time with or be involved with a person or group.
   • To join or connect things together for a common purpose.

2. Noun:

   • A partner, colleague, or companion in work or activity.
   • A person who has partial or subordinate membership in an organization.
   • A degree granted by a two-year college (Associate of Arts/Science).
   • Something that is connected with or accompanies another thing.

3. Adjective:

   • Having a secondary or subordinate position, rank, or status.
   • Connected with an organization but not fully a member.

Usage

• Verb:

  • People often associate the smell of rain with fresh air. (To mentally connect two things.)
  • He prefers not to associate with people who are dishonest. (To spend time with.)
  • The two companies decided to associate to develop new technology. (To join together for a purpose.)

• Noun:

  • She is my business associate; we work on projects together. (A work partner.)
  • He is an associate of the museum, not a full member. (A person with subordinate membership.)
  • She earned an Associate in Science degree. (A two-year college degree.)
  • Stress is a common associate of a demanding job. (Something connected with another.)

• Adjective:

  • She was promoted to associate professor last year. (A secondary rank.)
  • He is an associate member of the club, with limited voting rights. (Connected but not full.)

Advanced Usage

• "Associate oneself with": To publicly declare support for or connection with a person, group, or idea.

  • The celebrity refused to associate herself with the controversial campaign.

• "Associated with" (Adjectival Phrase): Closely connected to or involved with.

  • The risks associated with smoking are well-documented.

Variants and Related Words

• Association (n): An organization of people with a common purpose; a connection or relationship.

  • She joined the homeowners' association.

• Associative (adj): Relating to or involving association, especially mental connection.

  • The associative property in mathematics.

Synonyms

• Verb: Connect, link, relate, mingle, consort.
• Noun: Partner, colleague, companion, affiliate, ally.
• Adjective: Secondary, subordinate, affiliate, auxiliary.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Associate with: To spend time with a person or group; to be connected with something.
  • Parents often worry about who their children associate with.

Related Idioms

• Guilt by association: The idea that a person can be judged negatively because of the people or groups they are connected with.
  • He was fired due to guilt by association after his business partner was arrested.

Adjective

1. having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status
   • an associate member
   • an associate professor

Noun

1. a degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies
2. any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another
   • first was the lightning and then its thunderous associate
3. a person with subordinate membership in a society, institution, or commercial enterprise
   • associates in the law firm bill at a lower rate than do partners
4. a friend who is frequently in the company of another
   • drinking companions
   • comrades in arms
5. a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
   • he had to consult his associate before continuing

Verb

1. bring or come into association or action
   • The churches consociated to fight their dissolution
2. keep company with; hang out with
   • He associates with strange people
   • She affiliates with her colleagues
3. make a logical or causal connection
   • I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
   • colligate these facts
   • I cannot relate these events at all