association
as.so.ci.a.tion \*-.so--se--'a--sh*n, -she--\ \-shn*l, -sh*n-*l\ n 1: the
act of associating : the state of being associated 2: an organization of
persons having a common interest : SOCIETY 3: something linked in memory
or imagination with a thing or person 4: the process of forming mental
connections or bonds between sensations, i deas, or memories 5: the
formation of polymers by linkage through hydrogen bonds 6: a major unit in
ecological community organization characterized by essen tial uniformity
and usu. by two or more dominant species - as.so.ci.a.tion.al aj