Definitions for affiliation

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

af•fil•i•ateəˈfɪl iˌeɪt; -ɪt, -ˌeɪt(v.; n.)-at•ed, -at•ing

(v.t.)to bring into close association or connection:
The center affiliated with the university.
to attach or unite on terms of fellowship; associate (usu. fol. by with).
to trace the derivation or origin of.
(v.i.)to associate oneself; be united.
(n.)a branch organization.
a business concern owned or controlled in whole or in part by another concern.
Category: Business
an affiliated person; associate.
Category: Commerce

Origin of affiliate:

1755–65; < ML affīliātus, ptp. of affīliāre to adopt as a son

af•fil`i•a′tion(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

affiliation, association, tie, tie-up(noun)
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"
affiliation(noun)
the act of becoming formally connected or joined
"welcomed the affiliation of the research center with the university"

Wiktionary

affiliation(Noun)
The relationship resulting from affiliating one thing with another.
affiliation(Noun)
A club, society or umbrella organisation so formed, especially a trade union.

Origin: From affiliation, from affiliatio, noun of action from verb affiliare, affiliate, from aff-, combining form of ad, to, + filiare, verb formed from filius, son

Webster Dictionary

Affiliation(noun)
adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same family or society
Affiliation(noun)
the establishment or ascertaining of parentage; the assignment of a child, as a bastard, to its father; filiation
Affiliation(noun)
connection in the way of descent