Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
associate (verb)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.
intransitive verb
to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways (as in memory or imagination)
1.
to come or be together as partners, friends, or companions
2.
to combine or join with other parts - unite join
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
1.
one with another as - associated
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
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
associate (noun)1.
a person frequently seen in the company of another
SYNONIMS:
cohort, companion, compatriot, compeer, comrade, crony, fellow, hobnobber, mate, running mateRELATED 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, parasite2.
a fellow worker
SYNONIMS:
associate, confrere ( confrère), coworkerRELATED WORDS:
equal, fellow, peer; accomplice, ally, cohort, collaborator, confederate, copartner, half, partner; buddy, chum, companion, comrade, crony, pal; compatriot, countryman1.
to come or be together as friends
SYNONIMS:
chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, sort, travelRELATED 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, friendNEAR ANTONYMS:
avoid, cold-shoulder, shun, snub; alienate, estrange; break up, disband, disperse, split (up); disjoin, dissociate, disunite, divorce, sever, split, sunder2.
to think of (something) in combination
SYNONIMS:
connect, correlate, identify, link, relateRELATED WORDS:
compare, equate, liken; group, join, lump (together), tie (together)NEAR ANTONYMS:
contrast, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, separate, set off3.
to come together to form a single unit
SYNONIMS:
associate, coalesce, combine, conjoin, conjugate, connect, couple, fuse, interfuse, join, link (up), marry, unifyRELATED WORDS:
mate, yoke; ally, confederate, league; chain, compound, hitch, hook, splice; assemble, cluster, congregate, constellate, convene, gather, meet; recombine, reconnect, rejoin, reunify, reuniteNEAR ANTONYMS:
detach, disaffiliate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, fractionate, isolate, resolve, uncouple, unyoke; disband, disperse, scatter4.
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members
SYNONIMS:
associate, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, confederate, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, uniteRELATED WORDS:
cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up); incorporate, organize, unionize; affiliate; amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge; knot, link, tie, wedNEAR ANTONYMS:
detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder; alienate, estrange, fall out5.
to take part in social activities
SYNONIMS:
associate, fraternize, go out, hobnob, mingle, mix, step outRELATED WORDS:
carouse, party, revel; circulateNEAR ANTONYMS:
avoid, eschew, shun; slight, snub