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general::
noun an organization ADJ. international, local, national, regional | private, public, voluntary | arts, business, community, constituency, consumer, football, housing, industry, library, neighbourhood, parent-teacher, professional, student, trade, etc. ASSOCIATION + VERB meet The association meets four times a year.ORGANIZATION (for more verbs) relationship between people/organizations ADJ. close | free It was to be a free association of equal partners. | loose a loose association of sovereign states | long, long-standing | personal VERB + ASSOCIATION form | maintain They have maintained a close association with a college in the US. PREP. in ~ with (= together with) The book was published in association with British Heritage. | ~ between the association between the two countries | ~ with His association with such criminals can only destroy him. PHRASES freedom of association One of the most important political freedoms is freedom of association. connection between things ADJ. clear, close, direct, intimate, strong a close association between the two nations | loose | early, long, traditional | formal | free the technique of free association in which the patient is encouraged to say the first thing that comes to mind VERB + ASSOCIATION have The city has had a long association with the mining industry. | form You want the child to form an association between good behaviour and rewards. | demonstrate, find, prove, show The research showed an association between diet and various diseases. PREP. by ~ Dogs learn mainly by association. | in ~ with (= together with) We are working in association with several charities. | ~ between a clear association between good health and regular exercise | ~ with the traditional association of the Democrats with minority interests PHRASES guilty/tainted by association He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. associations: feelings/memories ADJ. strong | happy, positive, pleasant | negative, unhappy, unpleasant | cultural, historical, literary Tourists visit the city for its historical associations. VERB + ASSOCIATION have, hold Does the name ‘Baxter’ have any associations for you? | call up, evoke, spark off, trigger The smell of fresh bread triggers all kinds of associations for me. PREP. ~ for
Oxford Collocations Dictionary