sociation
/ˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃn/ /ˌsəʊʃɪˈeɪʃn/noun
1An association, a league. Now rare.
2 Sociology. Social interaction; socialization.
3 Ecology. A basic unit of a mature plant community having one or more dominant species.
- This term is used principally by Scandinavian botanists to describe variation in species-poor plant societies such as those encountered in northern Europe..
Origin
Late 16th century. From post-classical Latin sociatio association, union (3rd cent.) from classical Latin sociāt-, past participial stem of sociāre + -iō. Compare Middle French sociation. In later use in sense 1a only aphetic from association.