1. Make a logical or causal connection
   "I cannot associate these events at all";
   - tie in, relate, link, colligate, link up, connect
    
2. Bring or come into association or action
   "The two organizations associated to work on the project";
   - consociate
    
3. Keep company with; hang out with
   "He associates with strange people";
   - consort, affiliate, assort

1. A person who joins with others in some activity or endeavour
   "he had to consult his associate before continuing"
    
2. 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"
    
3. A friend who is frequently in the company of another
   "drinking associates";
   - companion, comrade, fellow, familiar, yokefellow [N. Amer]
    
4. Any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another
   "first was the lightning and then its thunderous associate"
    
5. A degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies
   "She earned her associate degree in nursing from the community college";
   - associate degree

1. Having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status
   "an associate member"; "an associate professor"
    
2. Joined with another or others, having equal or nearly equal status
   "She was promoted to associate professor after five years at the university"

Derived forms: associates, associating, associated

See also: low-level, subordinate, subsidiary

Type of: academic degree, accompaniment, attendant, cerebrate, china [Brit, informal], cogitate, compeer, concomitant, co-occurrence, degree, equal, foot soldier, friend, interact, match, mate [Brit, informal], peer, subordinate, subsidiary, think, underling, understrapper [informal], unify, unite

Antonym: dissociate

Part of: association

Encyclopedia: Associate