back: The Prime Minister is backed by the civic movement, Public Against Violence.
support: The vice president insisted that he supported the hard-working people of New York.
aid: …a software system to aid managers in advanced decision-making.
as|sis|tance ◆◇◇ /əs I stəns/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] If you give someone assistance , you help them do a job or task by doing part of the work for them. □ Since 1976 he has been operating the shop with the assistance of volunteers. □ She can still come downstairs with assistance but she's very weak.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you give someone assistance , you give them information or advice. □ Any assistance you could give the police will be greatly appreciated.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If someone gives a person or country assistance , they help them by giving them money. □ …a viable programme of economic assistance.
4 N‑UNCOUNT If something is done with the assistance of a particular thing, that thing is helpful or necessary for doing it. □ The translations were carried out with the assistance of a medical dictionary.
5 PHRASE Someone or something that is of assistance to you is helpful or useful to you. □ Can I be of any assistance?
6 PHRASE If you come to someone's assistance , you take action to help them. □ The Goodwins, who were staying opposite them, noticed their struggle and came to their assistance. SYNONYMS assistance NOUN 1
backing: The president had the full backing of his government to negotiate a deal.
aid: He was forced to turn for aid to his former enemy.
support: The prime minister gave his full support to the government's reforms.
as|sis|tant ◆◇◇ /əs I stənt/ (assistants )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Assistant is used in front of titles or jobs to indicate a slightly lower rank. For example, an assistant director is one rank lower than a director in an organization. □ …the Assistant Secretary of Defense.
2 N‑COUNT Someone's assistant is a person who helps them in their work. □ Kalan called his assistant, Hashim, to take over while he went out.
3 N‑COUNT An assistant is a person who works in a shop selling things to customers. □ The assistant took the book and checked the price on the back cover. SYNONYMS assistant NOUN 2
helper: One table of six children had nearly as many helpers.
ally: He is a close ally of the Prime Minister.
aide: …a close aide to the Prime Minister.
as|si s|tant re f|eree (assistant referees ) N‑COUNT An assistant referee is the same as a linesman .
Assoc. Assoc. is a written abbreviation for association , associated , or associate .
as|so|ci|ate ◆◇◇ (associates , associating , associated ) The verb is pronounced /əsoʊ sie I t/. The noun and adjective are pronounced /əsoʊ siət/. 1 VERB If you associate someone or something with another thing, the two are connected in your mind. □ [V n + with ] Through science we've got the idea of associating progress with the future.
2 VERB If you are associated with a particular organization, cause, or point of view, or if you associate yourself with it, you support it publicly. □ [be V -ed + with ] I haven't been associated with the project over the last year. □ [V pron-refl + with ] The press feels the need to associate itself with the green movement.
3 VERB If you say that someone is associating with another person or group of people, you mean they are spending a lot of time in the company of people you do not approve of. □ [V + with ] What would they think if they knew that they were associating with a murderer?
4 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] Your associates are the people you are closely connected with, especially at work. □ …the restaurant owner's business associates.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Associate is used before a rank or title to indicate a slightly different or lower rank or title. □ Mr Lin is associate director of the Institute.
as|so|ci|at|ed ◆◇◇ /əsoʊ sie I t I d/
1 ADJ If one thing is associated with another, the two things are connected with each other. □ These symptoms are particularly associated with migraine headaches.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Associated is used in the name of a company that is made up of a number of smaller companies which have joined together. □ …the Associated Press. SYNONYMS associated ADJ 1
connected: The dispute is not directly connected to the negotiations.
related: …equipment and accessories for diving and related activities.
allied: …lectures on subjects allied to health, beauty and fitness.
as|so|cia|tion ◆◆◇ /əsoʊ sie I ʃ ə n/ (associations )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An association is an official group of people who have the same job, aim, or interest. □ …the Association of British Travel Agents. □ Research associations are often linked to a particular industry.
2 → see also housing association
3 N‑COUNT Your association with a person or a thing such as an organization is the connection that you have with them. □ [+ with ] …the company's six-year association with retailer J.C. Penney Co.