associate

¹as·so·ci·ate

verb \ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt, -sē-\

as·so·ci·at·edas·so·ci·at·ing

Definition of ASSOCIATE

transitive verb

1

: to join as a partner, friend, or companion

2

obsolete : to keep company with : attend

3

: to join or connect together : combine

4

: to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways (as in memory or imagination)

intransitive verb

1

: to come or be together as partners, friends, or companions

2

: to combine or join with other parts : unite

Examples of ASSOCIATE

1. I no longer wish to be associated with people like him.
2. She associates herself with some pretty strange people.

Origin of ASSOCIATE

Middle English associat associated, from Latin associatus, past participle of associare to unite, from ad- + sociare to join, from socius companion — more at social

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ASSOCIATE

Synonyms

chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travel, be friends with, fall in with, keep company (with), rub elbows (with) or rub shoulders (with), take up with

Antonyms

break up, dissever, part, section, separate, sever, split, sunder, unlink

Related Words

affiliate, ally, attach, band, bond, club, collaborate, collude, confederate, conjoin, connect, cooperate, couple, gang, get along, get on, group, interrelate, join, knot, league, link, mingle, mix, rally, relate, side, socialize, team, tie, wed; befriend, friend

Near Antonyms

avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub; alienate, estrange; break up, disband, disperse, split (up); disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, sever, split, sunder

See Synonym Discussion at join

Rhymes with ASSOCIATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate

²as·so·ciate

adjective \ə-ˈsō-shē-ət, -sē-, -ˌāt, -shət\

Definition of ASSOCIATE

1

: closely connected (as in function or office) with another

2

: closely related especially in the mind

3

: having secondary or subordinate status <associate membership in a society>

Examples of ASSOCIATE

1. He's an associate member of the club but he hopes to become a full member soon.
2. She was promoted from assistant editor to associate editor and may soon be promoted to senior editor.

First Known Use of ASSOCIATE

14th century

³as·so·ciate

noun \same as ²\

Definition of ASSOCIATE

1

: one associated with another: as

a : partner, colleague

b : companion, comrade

2

a : an entry-level member (as of a learned society, professional organization, or profession)

b : employee, worker

3

often capitalized : a degree conferred especially by a junior college <associate in arts>

— as·so·ciate·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of ASSOCIATE

1. Her associates respected her for her hard work.
2. She started as an associate at the law firm.

First Known Use of ASSOCIATE

1533

Related to ASSOCIATE

Synonyms

cohort, companion, compatriot, compeer, comrade, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mate

Related Words

colleague, coworker, equal, peer, workmate; accomplice, affiliate, ally, collaborator, confederate, half, partner; buddy, chum, confidant, familiar, friend, hearty, intimate, pal; countryman; classmate, housemate, messmate, playfellow, playmate, roommate, schoolmate, shipmate, teammate; attendant, escort; hanger-on, leech, parasite

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite