associate vs mean

associate and mean both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
associate	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
mean	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, mean is a hyponym of associate; that is, mean is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than associate:

Other hyponyms of associate include remember, interrelate, correlate, identify, free-associate, have in mind, think of.

associate (noun)	mean (noun)
a degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies	an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another
a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
a person with subordinate membership in a society, institution, or commercial enterprise

associate (adjective)	mean (adjective)
having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status	of no value or worth
	having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
	characterized by malice
	approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
	marked by poverty befitting a beggar
	(used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt
	(used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
	very good; of the highest quality

associate (verb)	mean (verb)
make a logical or causal connection	have in mind as a purpose
bring or come into association or action	intend to refer to
keep company with; hang out with	destine or designate for a certain purpose
	mean or intend to express or convey
	denote or connote
	have as a logical consequence
	have a specified degree of importance