associate
To think of one thing when you think of another thing.
To make a mental connection between one thing and another.
A person you work with or do business with.
A person who is connected to another in a professional or business context.
To spend time with someone, often as friends or part of a group.
To regularly meet or be together with someone, often implying a social or group connection.
A person who belongs to a group but is not a full member.
A member of an organization or group who has limited rights compared to full members.
- Base: associate
- Plural: associates
- Base: associate
- 3rd Person Singular: associates
- Present Participle: associating
- Past: associated
associate degree
1Two-year college qualification
A college qualification you get after two years of study.
- She earned an associate degree in nursing.
- An associate degree can lead to better job opportunities.
associate with
1Be connected socially or professionally
To be connected to a person, group, or idea in some way.
- She doesn't want to associate with dishonest people.
- That brand is often associated with high quality.
guilt by association
1Unfair blame due to connection
When someone is blamed because they know or are connected to someone who did something wrong.
- He argued that he was a victim of guilt by association.
- The article warns against guilt by association in politics.
guilt by association
2Blame due to someone's connections
When people think you did something wrong just because you know someone who did it.
- He was accused through guilt by association, even though he wasn't involved.
- Guilt by association is not fair in a court of law.