n. 1 a group of people organized for a joint purpose; a society. 2 the act or an instance of associating. 3 fellowship or companionship. 4 a mental connection between ideas. 5 Chem. a loose aggregation of molecules. 6 Ecol. a group of associated plants. Association Football Brit. football played by sides of 11 with a round ball which may not be handled during play except by the goalkeepers. associational adj.
[ F association or med.L associatio (as ASSOCIATE, -ATION) ]