array_push() an associative array item

Is it possible to use array_push() (or anything) to append an associative array item to an existing array ?? ie I need to append "$key"=>"$val" onto an array, so that i can then access $array($key); and get the associative $val value. I have tried a few combinations to get this to work with no luck. none of the following work: array_push ($array, array($key, $value)); array_push ($array, "\"$key\" => \"$value\""); array_push ($array, "$key => $val"); etc etc. How can this get done ? Peter Lockhart Key Web Hosting http://www.key.co.za