society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (transitive)] > associate with as partner (3)
Chiefly Australian and New Zealand. to go (also be) mates: to work as an equal partner (with someone).
transitive. To be or act as the partner of; (spec. in Ballet) to lift or support (a dancer) (cf. partnering, n. 2).