The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Connect \Con*nect"\ (k[o^]n*n[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Connected; p. pr. & vb. n. Connecting.] [L. connectere,
   -nexum; con- + nectere to bind. See Annex.]
   1. To join, or fasten together, as by something intervening;
      to associate; to combine; to unite or link together; to
      establish a bond or relation between.
      [1913 Webster]

            He fills, he bounds, connects and equals all.
                                                  --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            A man must see the connection of each intermediate
            idea with those that it connects before he can use
            it in a syllogism.                    --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with
      another person, thing, business, or affair.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To establish a communication link; -- used with with; as,
      his telephone didn't answer, so I connected with him by
      email.
      [PJC]

   4. To electronically or mechanically link (a device) to
      another device, or to link a device to a common
      communication line; -- used with with; as, the installer
      connected our telephones on Monday; I connected my VCR to
      the TV set by myself; the plumber connected a shut-off
      valve to my gas line.
      [PJC]

   Connecting rod (Mach.), a rod or bar joined to, and
      connecting, two or more moving parts; esp. a rod
      connecting a crank wrist with a beam, crosshead, piston
      rod, or piston, as in a steam engine.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

connecting rod
    n 1: a rod that transmits motion (especially one that connects a
         rotating wheel to a reciprocating shaft)