associate

/ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt/

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

verb

  1. to join as a partner, friend, or companion

  2. to join or connect together : combine

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

They were closely associated with each other during the war.

join combine unite connect link associate relate mean to bring or come together into some manner of union. join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness. combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

noun

  1. one associated with another: such as

  2. partner, colleague

  3. companion, comrade

business associates

adjective

  1. closely connected (as in function or office) with another : sharing in responsibility or authority

  2. having secondary or subordinate status

  3. closely related especially in the mind

associate judges