definition of affiliates by The Free Dictionary
(redirected from affiliates) Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms. affiliate (?-f?l??-?t?) v. affiliated, affiliating, affiliates 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. affil?ia?tion n. affiliate vb 1. (tr; foll by to or with) to receive into close connection or association (with a larger body, group, organization, etc); adopt as a member, branch, etc 2. (foll by with) to associate (oneself) or be associated, esp as a subordinate or subsidiary; bring or come into close connection: he affiliated himself with the Union. n a. a person or organization that is affiliated with another b. (as modifier): an affiliate member. [C18: from Medieval Latin aff?li?tus adopted as a son, from aff?l?are, from Latin filius son]