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Belong vs Associate - What's the difference?

belong | associate |

In intransitive terms the difference between belong and associate

is that belong is to have its proper place while associate is to spend time socially; keep company.

As a preposition belong

is of, belonging to.

As an adjective associate is

joined with another or others and having equal or nearly equal status.

As a noun associate is

a person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or colleague.

belong

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) belongen, from .

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To have its proper place.
  • # (label) To be accepted in a group.
  • # To be a part of a group.
  • To be part of, or the property of.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.}}
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
    • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. These properties were known to have belonged to a toddy drawer. He had disappeared.}}
  • To be the spouse or partner of. (rfex)
  • (followed by'' to''') To be an element of (a set). The symbol \in means '''''belongs to .
  • To be deserved by.
  • * (rfdate) (Ben Jonson)
    • More evils belong us than happen to us.
    Derived terms
    * belonging * belongingness

    External links

    *

    Etymology 2

    Compare Kriol blanga'', Bislama ''blong'', Tok Pisin ''bilong'', and Torres Strait Creole ''blong .

    Alternative forms

    * blung * , belonga, blonga

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Of, belonging to.
  • * 1915, E. R. Masson, Untamed Territory
    • Jim Campbell, Charlie, Dick, ... Fred, lubra b’longa him, me, thass all.
  • * 1936, M. & E. Durack, Chunuma
    • By an’ bye ’im grow ’m up make ’m good fella stockman b’longta you.
  • * 1977, N. Kolig, Playing Alonga Mud
    • Those who had persevered with the course and had acquired some skill were now almost deferentially called ‘Maban (expert) belonga clay’.
  • * 1986, Kowanyama News, Dec.
    • Them two bin help’m too, and that father blung to this one old Frank.
  • * 1986, B. Shaw, Countrymen
    • There’s the bloke that’s kill that feller, uncle belong you an me.
  • * 1991, D. B. Rose, Hidden Histories
    • Get that fire [wood] stacked up like that tree there, that high ... It wasn’t wood belong to that fire pile. Might be for station, or somebody else, you know.

    associate

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Joined with another or others and having equal or nearly equal status.
    • He is an associate editor.
  • Having partial status or privileges.
    • He is an associate member of the club.
  • Following or accompanying; concomitant.
  • (biology, dated) Connected by habit or sympathy.
    • associate motions: those that occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or colleague.
  • A companion; a comrade.
  • One that habitually accompanies or is associated with another; an attendant circumstance.
  • A member of an institution or society who is granted only partial status or privileges.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (associat)
  • (lb) To join in or form a league, union, or association.
  • (lb) To spend time socially; keep company.
  • :
  • *
  • *:As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.
  • (lb) To join as a partner, ally, or friend.
  • (lb) To connect or join together; combine.
  • :
  • (lb) To connect evidentially, or in the mind or imagination.
  • *(rfdate) (John Keats) (1795-1821)
  • *:I always somehow associate Chatterton with autumn.
  • * (1800-1859)
  • *:He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names which will last as long as our language.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Philip J. Bushnell
    • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance , passage=Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident.}}
  • To endorse.
  • *
  • (lb) To be associative.
  • To accompany; to keep company with.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:Friends should associate friends in grief and woe.

    • Synonyms

    * join

    Antonyms

    * disassociate

    References

    * English heteronyms ----