definition of
association

[1] #1 association n. a formal organization of people or groups of people; "he joined the Modern Language Association". wn

[2] #2 association n. the act of consorting with or joining with others; "you cannot be convicted of criminal guilt by association". wn

[3] #3 association n. the state of being connected together as in memory or imagination; "his association of his father with being beaten was too strong to break". wn

[4] #4 association n. [connection, connexion] the process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination; "conditioning is a form of learning by association". wn

[5] #5 association n. [affiliation, tie, tie-up] a social or business relationship; "a valuable financial affiliation"; "he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team"; "many close associations with England". wn