What is the meaning of associate?

noun

• A person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor.
  • usage: "he had to consult his associate before continuing"
• A friend who is frequently in the company of another.
  • usage: "drinking companions"; "comrades in arms"
  • synonyms: companion, comrade, fellow, familiar
• A person with subordinate membership in a society, institution, or commercial enterprise.
  • usage: "associates in the law firm bill at a lower rate than do partners"
• Any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another.
  • usage: "first was the lightning and then its thunderous associate"
• A degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies.
  • synonyms: associate degree

verb

• Make a logical or causal connection.
  • usage: "I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind"; "colligate these facts"; "I cannot relate these events at all"
  • synonyms: tie in, relate, link, colligate, link up, connect
• Keep company with; hang out with.
  • usage: "He associates with strange people"; "She affiliates with her colleagues"
  • synonyms: consort, affiliate, assort
• Bring or come into association or action.
  • usage: "The churches consociated to fight their dissolution"
  • synonyms: consociate

adjective

• Having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status.
  • usage: "an associate member"; "an associate professor"