Definition

1. Verb:

   • To connect or fasten things together: To bring two or more separate things into contact or union, creating a single unit or continuous whole.
   • To become connected or linked: For separate entities to come together and form a connection or junction.
   • To become a member of a group or organization: To enter into the membership or participation of a club, team, company, or other collective body.
   • To come into the company of someone: To go to and be with another person or people, often to participate in an activity together.

2. Noun:

   • A point or line of connection: The place where two things are linked or fastened together; a joint or seam.
   • The act of joining: An instance of connecting or uniting.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (To connect):

  • The carpenter will join the two pieces of wood with glue and nails.
  • Please join the ends of the rope together to make a loop.

• Verb (To become connected):

  • The two rivers join just north of the city.
  • Where does this path join the main road?

• Verb (To become a member):

  • She decided to join the local chess club.
  • He will join the company as a new manager next month.

• Verb (To come into company):

  • You're welcome to join us for dinner.
  • I'll join you in the living room after I finish this call.

• Noun (Point of connection):

  • The join between the two pipes was leaking.
  • Check the join in the fabric to ensure it is secure.

Advanced Usage

• "Join forces": To unite efforts or resources with others for a common purpose.

  • The two charities decided to join forces to provide more effective aid.

• "Join the fray": To enter a fight, argument, or competitive situation.

  • After watching for a while, he couldn't resist and decided to join the fray.

• "Join battle": (Formal/Military) To begin fighting.

  • The armies prepared to join battle at dawn.

Variants and Related Words

• Joiner (n): A person who constructs the wooden components of a building, such as doors and window frames; (informal) a person who readily joins groups or organizations.
• Joint (adj/n): Shared by or common to two or more (e.g., ). As a noun, it can mean a point of connection or structure (e.g., ) or (informal) a place of meeting.
• Joining (n): The action of connecting or becoming a member.

Synonyms

• Connect: To bring together or into contact.
• Link: To make a connection between.
• Unite: To come or bring together for a common purpose.
• Enlist: To enroll in the armed services; to engage for a cause.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Join in: To participate in an activity with others.
  • Everyone was singing, so I decided to join in.
• Join up: To enlist in the armed forces; to connect or meet.
  • He joined up right after high school.
  • The dotted lines on the map show where the trails join up.

Related Idioms

• Join hands: To hold each other's hands; (figuratively) to combine efforts.
  • The children joined hands and formed a circle.
  • We must join hands to solve this community problem.
• If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: A saying meaning if you cannot defeat your opponents, you might as well cooperate with them or become part of their group.
  • I didn't like the new policy, but everyone else did, so I thought, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Noun

1. a set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets
   • let C be the union of the sets A and B
2. the shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made

Verb

1. be or become joined or united or linked
   • The two streets connect to become a highway
   • Our paths joined
   • The travelers linked up again at the airport
2. make contact or come together
   • The two roads join here
3. come into the company of
   • She joined him for a drink
4. cause to become joined or linked
   • join these two parts so that they fit together
5. become part of; become a member of a group or organization
   • He joined the Communist Party as a young man