4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] If something has particular associations for you, it is connected in your mind with a particular memory, idea, or feeling. □ [+ for ] He has a shelf full of things, each of which has associations for him.
5 PHRASE If you do something in association with someone else, you do it together. SYNONYMS association NOUN
1
club: …a youth club.
union: …the question of which countries should join the currency union.
society: …the North of England Horticultural Society.
league: …the League of Nations.
coalition: He was opposed by a coalition of civil rights and women's organizations.
3
friendship: She struck up a close friendship with Desiree during rehearsals.
relationship: …the friendly relationship between France and Britain.
link: Kiev hopes to cement close links with Bonn.
tie: Quebec has always had particularly close ties to France.
as|so|cia|tive /əsoʊ ʃət I v, [AM ] -ʃie I t I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Associative thoughts are things that you think of because you see, hear, or think of something that reminds you of those things or which you associate with those things. □ The associative guilt was ingrained in his soul.
as|sort|ed /əsɔː r t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A group of assorted things is a group of similar things that are of different sizes or colours or have different qualities. □ …swimsuits, sizes 12-18, in assorted colours.
as|sort|ment /əsɔː r tmənt/ (assortments ) N‑COUNT An assortment is a group of similar things that are of different sizes or colours or have different qualities. □ [+ of ] …an assortment of cheese.
asst. Asst. is an abbreviation for assistant .
as|suage /əswe I dʒ/ (assuages , assuaging , assuaged )
1 VERB If you assuage an unpleasant feeling that someone has, you make them feel it less strongly. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] The announcement appeared designed to assuage concerns at home and abroad.
2 VERB If you assuage a need or desire for something, you satisfy it. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] The meat they'd managed to procure assuaged their hunger.
as|sume ◆◆◇ /əsjuː m, [AM ] əsuː m/ (assumes , assuming , assumed )
1 VERB If you assume that something is true, you imagine that it is true, sometimes wrongly. □ [V that] It is a misconception to assume that the two continents are similar. □ [be V -ed to-inf] If mistakes occurred, they were assumed to be the fault of the commander on the spot. □ [V so ] 'Today?'—'I'd assume so, yeah.'
2 VERB If someone assumes power or responsibility, they take power or responsibility. □ [V n] Mr Cross will assume the role of Chief Executive with a team of four directors.
3 VERB If something assumes a particular quality, it begins to have that quality. □ [V n] In his dreams, the mountains assumed enormous importance.
4 PHRASE You can use let us assume or let's assume when you are considering a possible situation or event, so that you can think about the consequences. □ Let us assume those clubs actually win something. Then players will receive large bonuses. □ Let's assume for a moment that I am a litigant in your court.
5 → see also assuming
as|su med na me (assumed names ) N‑COUNT [usu under N ] If you do something under an assumed name , you do it using a name that is not your real name.
as|sum|ing /əsjuː m I ŋ, [AM ] -suː m-/ CONJ You use assuming or assuming that when you are considering a possible situation or event, so that you can think about the consequences. □ 'Assuming you're right,' he said, 'there's not much I can do about it, is there?'.
as|sump|tion ◆◇◇ /əsʌ mpʃ ə n/ (assumptions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N that, adj N , on N ] If you make an assumption that something is true or will happen, you accept that it is true or will happen, often without any real proof. □ …the scientific assumption on which the global warming theory is based.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Someone's assumption of power or responsibility is their taking of it. □ [+ of ] The government have retained the support which greeted their assumption of power last March. SYNONYMS assumption NOUN 1
presumption: …the presumption that a defendant is innocent until proved guilty.
guess: Well, we can hazard a guess at the answer.
inference: There were two inferences to be drawn from her letter.
conjecture: That was a conjecture, not a fact.
supposition: There's a popular supposition that we're publicly funded.
as|sur|ance /əʃʊə rəns/ (assurances )
1 N‑VAR [oft N that] If you give someone an assurance that something is true or will happen, you say that it is definitely true or will definitely happen, in order to make them feel less worried. □ He would like an assurance that other forces will not move into the territory. □ [+ of ] …the assurance of being loved and valued as a member of the household.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you do something with assurance , you do it with a feeling of confidence and certainty. □ Masur led the orchestra with assurance. □ The E.U. is now acquiring greater assurance and authority.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Assurance is insurance that provides cover in the event of death. [BRIT ] □ …endowment assurance.