as·so·ci·a·tion 
/əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/ noun
plural as·so·ci·a·tions /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/ noun 1 [count] : an organized group of people who have the same interest, job, etc.
▪ an athletic association [=league] ▪ a baseball players' association [=union] ▪ an association of local business leaders — see also parent-teacher association, savings and loan association 2 : a connection or relationship between things or people [count] ▪ They denied having any association with terrorists. ▪ They have a long association with the school and have donated millions of dollars to it. ▪ a study examining the association [=link] between obesity and heart disease [noncount] ▪ The book was produced by the publisher in association with the museum that sponsored the exhibit. [=the publisher and the museum were both involved in making the book] 3 [count] : a feeling, memory, or thought that is connected to a person, place, or thing — usually plural ▪ Chicago has pleasant associations for me because of the happy times I spent there. ▪ His former school has only bad/negative associations for him. [=he has only unhappy memories of his former school]
▪ an athletic association [=league] ▪ a baseball players' association [=union] ▪ an association of local business leaders — see also parent-teacher association, savings and loan association
