v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates. v.tr.
- To adopt or accept as a member, subordinate associate, or branch: The HMO affiliated the clinics last year.
- To associate (oneself) as a subordinate, subsidiary, employee, or member: affiliated herself with a new law firm.
- To assign the origin of.
To become closely connected or associated: The two unions voted to affiliate.
n. (-ē-ĭt, -āt')
A person, organization, or establishment associated with another as a subordinate, subsidiary, or member: network affiliates.
[Medieval Latin affīliāre, to adopt : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin fīlius, son.]
affiliation af·fil'i·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
