associate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
    • he had to consult his associate before continuing
  2. noun a friend who is frequently in the company of another
    familiar; comrade; fellow; companion.
    • drinking companions
    • comrades in arms
  3. noun 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. noun any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another
    • first was the lightning and then its thunderous associate
  5. noun a degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies
    associate degree.
  6. verb make a logical or causal connection
    tie in; relate; colligate; link; connect; link up.
    • I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
    • colligate these facts
    • I cannot relate these events at all
  7. verb keep company with; hang out with
    assort; affiliate; consort.
    • He associates with strange people
    • She affiliates with her colleagues
  8. verb bring or come into association or action
    consociate.
    • The churches consociated to fight their dissolution
  9. adjective satellite having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status
    • an associate member
    • an associate professor

WordNet

As*so"ci*ate transitive verb
Etymology
L. associatus, p. p. of associare; ad + sociare to join or unite, socius companion. See Social.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Associated present participle & verbal noun Associating
Definitions
  1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate; as, to associate others with s in business, or in an enterprise.
  2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of gold associated with other substances.
  3. To connect or place together in thought.
    He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last an long as our language. Macaulay.
  4. To accompany; to keep company with. Obs.
    Friends should associate friends in grief and woe. Shak.
As*so"ci*ate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as, congenial minds are disposed to associate.
  2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different part of the body. E. Darwin.
As*so"ci*ate adjective
Etymology
L. associatus, p. p.
Definitions
  1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge.
    While I descend . . . to my associate powers. Milton.
  2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as, an associate member.
  3. (Physiol.) Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions. E. Darwin.
As*so"ci*ate noun
Definitions
  1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
  2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a league.
  3. One connected with an association or institution without the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an associate of the Royal Academy.
  4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an concomitant.
    The one [idea] no sooner comes into the understanding, than its associate appears with it. Locke.
    Syn. -- Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner; coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.

Webster 1913