associate

/ə'souʃiit/
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associate

She works as an associate at a law firm.

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.
associate

She works as an associate at a law firm.

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