Reading Theme:
Association: Meaning, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：an organization for a shared purpose (association)
association
/əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
n.
A group of people who join together for a shared purpose, interest, or job.
an organization for a shared purpose
➕
/ən ˌɔːrɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən fɔːr ə ʃɛrd ˈpɜːrpəs/
n.
A group of people formally united for a common interest, goal, or profession.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'associare' (ad- 'to' + sociare 'join', from socius 'companion').
💡 Mnemonic
A social association is a society of associates—think 'associate' + 'nation' of people.
📖 Example
She joined the local association of volunteers to help clean up the city parks on weekends.
She joined the local association of volunteers to help clean up the city parks on weekends.
🔗 Collocations
in association with – in cooperation or partnership with
professional association – an organization for people in a specific career
trade association – a group representing businesses in the same industry
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
isolation (n.) – The state of being alone or separated from others.
🌱 Derivatives
associate (v./n.) – to connect or join; a colleague or member
associative (adj.) – relating to association or connection
📖 Cultural Story
Entered English in the 16th century from Latin 'associatio', originally meaning a union or connection. Used in psychology by Freud for 'free association', a key concept in psychoanalysis.
Meaning 2：a mental connection (association)
association
/əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
n.
When you connect one thing with another in your mind because of memory, feeling, or experience.
a mental connection
➕
/ə ˈmɛntl kəˈnɛkʃən/
n.
The process of linking ideas, memories, or feelings together in the mind based on experience.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The smell of rain on dry earth has a strong association with childhood summers for me.
The smell of rain on dry earth has a strong association with childhood summers for me.
🔗 Collocations
association of ideas – the linking of thoughts in the mind
free association – a psychoanalytic method of spontaneously reporting thoughts
in association with a memory – connected to a past experience
🔄 Synonyms
connection (n.) – A relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked with another.
link (n.) – A direct relationship or connection between two things.
correlation (n.) – A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things.
🚫 Antonyms
disconnection (n.) – the state of being separated or not linked
separation (n.) – the act of keeping things apart
🌱 Derivatives
associative (adj.) – involving the linking of ideas or things
disassociation (n.) – the act of breaking a connection
Wordbook
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