association

Noun

• (ecology) a group of organisms (plants and animals) that live together in a certain geographical region and constitute a community with a few dominant species

• (chemistry) any process of combination (especially in solution) that depends on relatively weak chemical bonding

• a relation resulting from interaction or dependence
  • flints were found in association with the prehistoric remains of the bear
    
  • the host is not always injured by association with a parasite
    

• a social or business relationship
  • a valuable financial affiliation
    
  • he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team
    
  • many close associations with England
    

• the process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination
  • conditioning is a form of learning by association
    

• the state of being connected together as in memory or imagination
  • his association of his father with being beaten was too strong to break
    

• the act of consorting with or joining with others
  • you cannot be convicted of criminal guilt by association
    

• a formal organization of people or groups of people
  • he joined the Modern Language Association
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  affiliation , tie , tie-up , connection , connexion