association

Universal Words noun 1 [C+sing./pl.v.] (abbreviation Assoc.) an official group of people who have joined together for a particular purpose SYNORGANIZATION: Do you belong to any professional or trade associations? * the Football Association * a residents' association seealsoHOUSINGASSOCIATION 2 [C,U] ~ (with sb/sth) a connection or relationship between people or organizations: his alleged association with terrorist groups * They have maintained a close association with a college in the US. * The book was published in association with (= together with) British Heritage. * She became famous through her association with the group of poets. 3 [C,usually pl.] an idea or a memory that is suggested by sb/sth; a mental connection between ideas: The seaside had all sorts of pleasant associations with childhood holidays for me. * The cat soon made the association between human beings and food. * Incense always had associations with religion for him. 4 [C] a connection between things where one is caused by the other: a proven association between passive smoking and cancer