association

(noun) a formal organization of people or groups of people. Example: "He joined the modern language association."

(noun) the act of consorting with or joining with others. Example: "You cannot be convicted of criminal guilt by association."

(noun) the state of being connected together as in memory or imagination. Example: "His association of his father with being beaten was too strong to break."

(noun) the process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination. Synonyms: connection, connexion. Example: "Conditioning is a form of learning by association."

(noun) a social or business relationship. Synonyms: affiliation, tie, tie-up. Examples: "A valuable financial affiliation." "He was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team." "Many close associations with england."

(noun) a relation resulting from interaction or dependence. Examples: "Flints were found in association with the prehistoric remains of the bear." "The host is not always injured by association with a parasite."

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

(noun) (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.