as‧so‧ci‧ate 1 S3 W2 / əsəʊʃieɪt, əsəʊsi- $ əsoʊ- / 动词

1 [及物动词] to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another

associate somebody/something with something

I don’t associate him with energetic sports.

2 be associated (with somebody/something)

a) to be related to a particular subject, activity etc :

problems associated with cancer treatment

b) ( also associate yourself with somebody/something ) to show that you support someone or something :

He did not associate himself with the pro-democracy movement.

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In everyday English, people usually say something comes with or goes with something rather than is associated with it:

There are some problems that go with this way of doing things.

3 associate with somebody to spend time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove of :

I don’t like these layabouts you’re associating with.