associate

[v. uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-; n., adj., uh-soh-shee-it, -eyt, -see-] /v. əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪt, -si-; n., adj., əˈsoʊ ʃi ɪt, -ˌeɪt, -si-/
verb (used with object), associated, associating.
1.
to connect or bring into relation, as thought, feeling, memory, etc.:
Many people associate dark clouds with depression and gloom.
2.
to join as a companion, partner, or ally:
to associate oneself with a cause.
3.
to unite; combine:
coal associated with shale.
verb (used without object), associated, associating.
4.
to enter into union; unite.
5.
to keep company, as a friend, companion, or ally:
He was accused of associating with known criminals.
6.
to join together as partners or colleagues.
noun
7.
a person who shares actively in anything as a business, enterprise, or undertaking; partner; colleague; fellow worker:
He consulted with his associates before proceeding further.
8.
a companion or comrade:
my most intimate associates.
9.
a confederate; an accomplice or ally:
criminal associates.
10.
anything usually accompanying or associated with another; an accompaniment or concomitant.
11.
a person who is admitted to a subordinate degree of membership in an association or institution:
an associate of the Royal Academy.
adjective
12.
connected, joined, or related, especially as a companion or colleague; having equal or nearly equal responsibility:
an associate partner.
13.
having subordinate status; without full rights and privileges:
an associate member.
14.
allied; concomitant.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Latin associātus joined to, united with (past participle of associāre), equivalent to as- as- + soci- (see social) + -ātus -ate1; compare Anglo-French associer (v.), associé (noun)
Related forms
associateship, noun
nonassociated, adjective
reassociate, verb, reassociated, reassociating.
superassociate, noun
unassociated, adjective
well-associated, adjective
Synonyms
1. link. 7, 8. See acquaintance.
Antonyms
1. dissociate. 7–9. adversary.
Examples from the web for associate
  • Most westerners associate it with earlier, darker times in human history.
  • It takes one to two years for a juvenile to turn from a grayish color to the pink that we most associate with flamingoes.
  • But the water molecules near the brush inside the jar of water can find water molecules to associate with everywhere around them.
  • I'm an associate editor (1 of 4) for a journal in my area of specialization.
  • The color comes from algae, which lends reefs the tropical colors most associate with these lush landscapes.
  • He was associate school and library sales manager.
  • As the daughter and wife of surgeons, she knew plenty about the subject and became a lifelong associate in her husband's research.
  • In 1994, she was hired as an associate professor at Princeton.
  • Pezman's articles on surfboard design led, in 1969, to a stint as associate editor for Surfing magazine.
  • Schwarz and purchased the perfect gift, a three-foot tiger, for the guest of honor -- the 1-year-old child of an associate.
British Dictionary definitions for associate

associate

verb (usually foll by with) (əˈsəʊʃɪˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
1.
(transitive) to link or connect in the mind or imagination: to associate Christmas with fun
2.
(intransitive) to keep company; mix socially: to associate with writers
3.
(intransitive) to form or join an association, group, etc
4.
(transitive; usually passive) to consider in conjunction; connect: rainfall is associated with humidity
5.
(transitive) to bring (a person, esp oneself) into friendship, partnership, etc
6.
(transitive; often passive) to express agreement or allow oneself to be connected (with): Bertrand Russell was associated with the peace movement
noun (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt; -ˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
7.
a person joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; partner; colleague
8.
a companion or friend
9.
something that usually accompanies another thing; concomitant: hope is an associate to happiness
10.
a person having a subordinate position in or admitted to only partial membership of an institution, association, etc
adjective (prenominal) (əˈsəʊʃɪɪt; -ˌeɪt; -sɪ-)
11.
joined with another or others in an enterprise, business, etc; having equal or nearly equal status: an associate director
12.
having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status: an associate member
13.
accompanying; concomitant
Derived Forms
associable, adjective
associator, noun
associatory, adjective
associateship, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Latin associāre to ally with, from sociāre to join, from socius an ally
Word Origin and History for associate
v.

mid-15c., from Latin associatus past participle of associare "join with," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + sociare "unite with," from socius "companion" (see social (adj.)). Related: Associated; associating. Earlier form of the verb was associen (late 14c.), from Old French associier "associate (with)."

n.

1530s, from associate (adj.).

adj.

early 15c., "allied, connected, paired," from Latin associatus, past participle of associare (see associate (v.)).