affiliation

af·fil·i·ate  (-fl-t)

v. af·fil·i·at·ed, af·fil·i·at·ing, af·fil·i·ates

v.tr.

1. To adopt or accept as a member, subordinate associate, or branch: The HMO affiliated the clinics last year.

2. To associate (oneself) as a subordinate, subsidiary, employee, or member: affiliated herself with a new law firm.

3. To assign the origin of.

v.intr.

To become closely connected or associated: The two unions voted to affiliate.

n. (--t, -t)

A person, organization, or establishment associated with another as a subordinate, subsidiary, or member: network affiliates.

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[Medieval Latin afflire, to adopt : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin flius, son; see dh(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

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af·fili·ation n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	affiliation - a social or business relationship; "a valuable financial affiliation"; "he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team"; "many close associations with England" tie-up, tie, association relationship - a state involving mutual dealings between people or parties or countries
	2.	affiliation - the act of becoming formally connected or joined; "welcomed the affiliation of the research center with the university" association - the act of consorting with or joining with others; "you cannot be convicted of criminal guilt by association" reaffiliation - affiliation anew

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affiliation

noun association, union, joining, league, relationship, connection, alliance, combination, coalition, merging, confederation, incorporation, amalgamation, banding together