Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, v. i.
   1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy;
      as, congenial minds are disposed to associate.

   2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a
      different part of the body. --E. Darwin.

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Associated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Associating}.] [L. associatus, p. p. of
   associare; ad + sociare to join or unite, socius companion.
   See {Social}.]
   1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or
      confederate; as, to associate others with us in business,
      or in an enterprise.

   2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of
      gold associated with other substances.

   3. To connect or place together in thought.

            He succeeded in associating his name inseparably
            with some names which will last as long as our
            language.                             --Macaulay.

   4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.]

            Friends should associate friends in grief and woe.
                                                  --Shak.

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, a. [L. associatus, p. p.]
   1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in
      interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing
      responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge.

            While I descend . . . to my associate powers.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges;
      as, an associate member.

   3. (Physiol.) Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate
      motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of
      preceding motions. --E. Darwin.

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, n.
   1. A companion; one frequently in company with another,
      implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.

   2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in
      a league.

   3. One connected with an association or institution without
      the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an
      associate of the Royal Academy.

   4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an
      concomitant.

            The one [idea] no sooner comes into the
            understanding, than its associate appears with it.
                                                  --Locke.

   Syn: Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner;
        coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.

Source : WordNet®

associate
     adj : having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status;
           "an associate member"; "an associate professor" [syn: {associate(a)}]

associate
     v 1: make a logical or causal connection; "I cannot connect these
          two pieces of evidence in my mind"; "colligate these
          facts"; "I cannot relate these events at all" [syn: {tie
          in}, {relate}, {link}, {colligate}, {link up}, {connect}]
          [ant: {decouple}]
     2: keep company with; hang out with; "He associates with
        strange people"; "She affiliates with her colleagues"
        [syn: {consort}, {affiliate}, {assort}]
     3: bring or come into association or action; "The churches
        consociated to fight their dissolution" [syn: {consociate}]

associate
     n 1: a person who joins with others in some activity; "he had to
          consult his associate before continuing"
     2: a person who is frequently in the company of another;
        "drinking companions"; "comrades in arms" [syn: {companion},
         {comrade}, {fellow}, {familiar}]
     3: any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected
        with another; "first was the lightning and then its
        thunderous associate"
     4: a degree granted by a two-year college on successful
        completion of the undergraduates course of studies [syn: {associate
        degree}]