associate
Definitions
To connect one thing with another in your mind
把……联系起来，联想
To spend time with a particular person or group, especially socially
（与某人）交往，来往
A person you work or do business with; a colleague or partner
同事，伙伴，合伙人
Joined with others but having a lower or partial rank or status
副的，准的（地位较低或非正式的）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedas- (a form of ad-, 'toward') + soci (companion) + -ate (verb) = 'to bring someone alongside as a companion.' That single idea splits into the verb 'to link / to keep company with' and the noun 'a partner or colleague.' The adjective (associate professor, associate member) means joined to a group but at a junior or partial level.
Root soci still carries 8 more wordsUsage Guide
Pronunciation shift by part of speech — the verb ends in a full vowel /əˈsəʊʃieɪt/ ("-ay-t"), while the noun and adjective weaken it to /əˈsəʊʃiət/ ("-ee-uht"). This is the same pattern as graduate and separate.
Verb grammar: 'associate A with B' (associate smoking with disease); 'associate with someone' = socialize with them, often with a negative tone (don't associate with criminals).
Register: the noun 'associate' is more formal/corporate than 'colleague' or 'partner'; common in business and law (sales associate, legal associate).
Example Sentences
- 1.
Most people associate the color black with mourning.
- 2.
His parents warned him not to associate with that crowd.
- 3.
She introduced me to a business associate of hers.
- 4.
He was recently promoted to associate professor.
Easily Confused
associate vs link/connect — all three join two things, but associate is usually mental (you associate a smell with a memory) or social (associate with friends), while link and connect are more physical or logical (link two computers, connect the pipes). If it happens in the mind, prefer associate.