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.
Phrases and idioms:
Association Football Brit. football played by sides of 11 with a round ball which may not be handled during play except by the goalkeepers.
Derivatives:
associational adj.
Etymology: F association or med.L associatio (as ASSOCIATE, -ATION)