Someone or something, especially, a television station, that is associated with a larger, related organization, such as a television network; a member of a group of associated things.

"Our local TV channel is an affiliate of NBC."

To adopt; to receive into a family as one's offspring

To bring or receive into close connection; to ally.

(said of an illegitimate child) To fix the paternity of

"to affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man rather than another"

To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to.

(followed by "to" or "with") To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society as a member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.