1. vt. & vi.使发生联系，使联合；结交，结伙　 (cause to) join as friends or business partners
2. vt.联想　 connect, especially in the mind, with sth or sb else

　～ closely　密切地联系
　～ confidentially　秘密地交往
　～ freely　自由地交往
　～ inseparably　不可分割地交往
　～ naturally　自然地交往
　～ with　与…交往，把…与…联系在一起
　～ with all sorts of people　和各种各样的人交往
　～ with dishonest boy　与不诚实的男孩为友
　～ Egypt with the Nile　想起埃及就想起尼罗河
　～ poverty with misery　把贫穷和苦难联系在一起
　～ oneself with the firm　加入某商行
　～ oneself with a proposal　赞成一项提议
　～ oneself with sb in business　与某人合伙经商

　I don't associate the two ideas.　这两个概念我联系不起来。

 ♣ associate with　 (v.+prep.)
　与…交往，联系　find a connection between sb/sth
　〔说明〕 associate with常不用于进行体。
　I won't have my son associating with known criminals.　我不会让我的儿子与臭名昭著的罪犯交往。
　Mother warned the boys not to associate with bad companions.　母亲告诫孩子们别和坏人交往。
　We associated with all sorts of people.　我们与各种各样的人都打交道。
　I always associate the smell of those flowers with my childhood.　我一闻到这种花香，就联系起我的童年。
　We associate turkey with Thanksgiving.　我们看到火鸡就联想到感恩节。
　Usually people associate smoke with fire.　通常人们把烟和火相联系。
　We naturally associate the name of Darwin with the doctrine of evolution.　我们自然而然地把达尔文的名字与进化论联系在一起。
　We associate Egypt with Nile.　我们想到埃及就联想到尼罗河。
　I often associate summer with holidays.　我常把夏日与假日联系起来。
　We should associate ourselves with the larger firm.　我们应该和这家大公司联合。
　He associated himself with his friend in a business undertaking.　他与朋友合伙经商。
　He is associated with his sons in business.　他和他的儿子们合伙做生意。
　In the children's minds summer is associated with picnics.　在孩子们的心里，想到夏天就联想到野餐。
　The doctor was associated in the child's mind with injections and pains.　在孩子的脑子里，医生总是使他联想到打针与疼痛。
　He is closely associated with China.　他和中国密切地联系在一起。

C 伙伴；同事 a person connected with another, especially in work;partner

　associate　用作名词意思是“伙伴，同事”，尤指由于共同的职业、地位、生意而经常联系的人，也指有共同利害关系或目的而经常保持联系的同事或伙伴，引申可作“准学士，副学士”解。

　employ an ～　雇一个帮手
　confidential ～　知心的朋友
　congenial ～　志趣相投的伙伴
　close ～　亲密伙伴
　literary ～　文友
　business ～　生意伙伴
　work ～　同事
　～ in crime　同案犯
　～ of arts　准文学士

　I've got a new job and a new set of work associates.　我有了新工作和一班子新同事。
　His son has got some questionable associates.　他儿子有些不三不四的伙伴。

 ♣ associate, companion, company, comrade
　参见companion条。

　associate　还可用作形容词，意思是“合伙的”“非正式的”“副的”。例如：
　We are associate partners.　我们是合伙人。
　She was an associate member of the club.　她是这家俱乐部的非正式成员。
　He was an associate editor of the paper.　他是这家报社的副主编。

　［同义词］ v. connect, relate n. companion, fellow, mate, partner
　［反义词］ n. enemy, opponent, rival