The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, a. [L. associatus, p. p.]
   1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in
      interest, purpose, employment, or office; sharing
      responsibility or authority; as, an associate judge.
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            While I descend . . . to my associate powers.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges;
      as, an associate member.
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   3. (Physiol.) Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate
      motions, such as occur sympathetically, in consequence of
      preceding motions. --E. Darwin.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Associated; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Associating.] [L. associatus, p. p. of
   associare; ad + sociare to join or unite, socius companion.
   See Social.]
   1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or
      confederate; as, to associate others with us in business,
      or in an enterprise.
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   2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of
      gold associated with other substances.
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   3. To connect or place together in thought.
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            He succeeded in associating his name inseparably
            with some names which will last as long as our
            language.                             --Macaulay.
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   4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.]
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            Friends should associate friends in grief and woe.
                                                  --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, n.
   1. A companion; one frequently in company with another,
      implying intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
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   2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in
      a league.
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   3. One connected with an association or institution without
      the full rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an
      associate of the Royal Academy.
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   4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an
      concomitant.
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            The one [idea] no sooner comes into the
            understanding, than its associate appears with it.
                                                  --Locke.
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   Syn: Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner;
        coadjutor; comrade; accomplice.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Associate \As*so"ci*ate\, v. i.
   1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy;
      as, congenial minds are disposed to associate.
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   2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a
      different part of the body. --E. Darwin.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

associate
    adj 1: having partial rights and privileges or subordinate
           status; "an associate member"; "an associate professor"
    n 1: a person who joins with others in some activity or
         endeavor; "he had to consult his associate before
         continuing"
    2: a friend who is frequently in the company of another;
       "drinking companions"; "comrades in arms" [syn: companion,
       comrade, fellow, familiar, associate]
    3: a person with subordinate membership in a society,
       institution, or commercial enterprise; "associates in the law
       firm bill at a lower rate than do partners"
    4: any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected
       with another; "first was the lightning and then its
       thunderous associate"
    5: a degree granted by a two-year college on successful
       completion of the undergraduates course of studies [syn:
       associate degree, associate]
    v 1: make a logical or causal connection; "I cannot connect
         these two pieces of evidence in my mind"; "colligate these
         facts"; "I cannot relate these events at all" [syn:
         associate, tie in, relate, link, colligate, link
         up, connect] [ant: decouple, dissociate]
    2: keep company with; hang out with; "He associates with strange
       people"; "She affiliates with her colleagues" [syn:
       consort, associate, affiliate, assort]
    3: bring or come into association or action; "The churches
       consociated to fight their dissolution" [syn: consociate,
       associate]