associate

verb8

1. •
   To connect or join together; combine.

   • particles of gold associated with other substances
2. •
   to keep something joined in memory with another thing, so that one of them calls the other to mind

   • I always somehow associate Chatterton with autumn. — 1819
3. •
   To spend time socially; keep company.

   • She associates with her coworkers on weekends.
   • Before the race he associated only with other skiers.
4. •
   To join in or form a league, union, or association.
5. •
   To join as a partner, ally, or friend.

   • He associated his name with many environmental causes.
6. •
   [with oneself] To endorse.

   • She refused to associate herself with the petition.
7. •
   To be associative.
8. •
   (no longer used) To accompany; to be in the company of.

   • Friends should associate friends in grief and woe — 1588

noun7

1. •
   A person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or employee.

   • Allow me to introduce my business associates, Alice and Bob, who are senior VPs for ops and strategy, respectively.
   • Associates must wash hands before returning to work
2. •
   Somebody with whom one works, coworker, colleague.
3. •
   A casual friend, acquaintance
4. •
   A companion; a comrade.
5. •
   One that habitually accompanies or is associated with another; an attendant circumstance.
6. •
   A member of an institution or society who is granted only partial status or privileges.
7. •
   One of a pair of elements of an integral domain (or a ring) such that the two elements are divisible by each other (or, equivalently, such that each one can be expressed as the product of the other with a unit).

adjective4

1. •
   Joined with another or others and having lower status.

   • The associate editor is someone who has some experience in editing but not sufficient experience to qualify for a senior post.
2. •
   Having partial status or privileges.

   • He is an associate member of the club.
3. •
   Following or accompanying; concomitant.
4. •
   (old-fashioned) Connected by habit or sympathy.

   • associate motions

noun1

1. •
   (slang) An associate's degree.