association

noun

1. 1

   the act of consorting with or joining with others

   you cannot be convicted of criminal guilt by association

2. 2

   the process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination

   conditioning is a form of learning by association

3. 3

   (ecology) a group of organisms (plants and animals) that live together in a certain geographical region and constitute a community with a few dominant species

4. 4

   a formal organization of people or groups of people

   he joined the Modern Language Association

5. 5

   (chemistry) any process of combination (especially in solution) that depends on relatively weak chemical bonding

6. 6

   a relation resulting from interaction or dependence

   flints were found in association with the prehistoric remains of the bear

   the host is not always injured by association with a parasite

7. 7

   a social or business relationship

   a valuable financial affiliation

   he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team

8. 8

   the state of being connected together as in memory or imagination

   his association of his father with being beaten was too strong to break