verb To connect one thing or idea with another in your mind.
- Most people associate the color red with danger.
- Many children associate the sound of an ice cream van with summer holidays.
- I always associate the smell of baking bread with my grandmother's kitchen.
verb To spend time with someone, or join with them as a partner or ally.
- He was warned not to associate with known criminals.
- She did not want to associate with people who gossiped about her friends.
- Our club likes to associate with local schools on community projects.
noun A person you work with, especially a colleague, partner, or business contact.
- She introduced him as a business associate, not a friend.
- My business associate will join the call to explain the new plan.
- He thanked every associate who had helped with the project.
adj Joined with another person or group, often with a lower or partial level of status.
- He holds the title of associate professor.
- She joined the club as an associate member for a smaller fee.
- The university named him associate director of the new research center.
