relation


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re·la·tion

 (rĭ-lā′shən)
n.
1. A logical or natural association between two or more things; relevance of one to another; connection: the relation between smoking and heart disease.
2. The connection of people by blood or marriage; kinship.
3. A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.
4. The way in which one person or thing is connected with another: the relation of parent to child.
5. relations
a. The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters: international relations.
b. Sexual intercourse.
6.
a. The act of telling or narrating.
b. A narrative; an account.
7. Mathematics A correspondence between two sets, consisting of a set of ordered pairs, the first element of each of which is from the first set, and the second element of each of which is from the second set. If A = {1,2} and B = {3,4}, then {(1,3), (1,4)} is a relation from A to B.
8. Law The principle by which an action done on a certain date is treated as having been done on an earlier date. Also called relation back.
Idiom:
in relation to
In reference to; in connection with: This letter from the bank is in relation to your mortgage.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

relation

(rɪˈleɪʃən)
n
1. the state or condition of being related or the manner in which things are related
2. connection by blood or marriage; kinship
3. a person who is connected by blood or marriage; relative; kinsman
4. reference or regard (esp in the phrase in or with relation to)
5. the position, association, connection, or status of one person or thing with regard to another or others
6. the act of relating or narrating
7. an account or narrative
8. (Law) law the principle by which an act done at one time is regarded in law as having been done antecedently
9. (Law) law the statement of grounds of complaint made by a relator
10. (Mathematics) logic maths
a. an association between ordered pairs of objects, numbers, etc, such as … is greater than …
b. the set of ordered pairs whose members have such an association
11. (Philosophy) philosophy
a. internal relation a relation that necessarily holds between its relata, as 4 is greater than 2
b. external relation a relation that does not so hold
[C14: from Latin relātiō a narration, a relation (between philosophical concepts)]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

re•la•tion

(rɪˈleɪ ʃən)

n.
1. a significant association between or among things; connection: the relation between cause and effect.
2. relations,
a. the various connections or dealings between peoples, countries, etc.: foreign relations.
b. the various connections in which persons are brought together: business relations.
c. sexual intercourse.
3. the mode or kind of connection between one person or thing and another.
4. connection between persons by blood or marriage; relationship.
5. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relative.
6. the act of relating or narrating.
7. Law. a principle whereby an act done at one time is presumed to have taken effect at a previous time.
8. Math.
a. a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
b. a single- or multiple-valued function.
Idioms:
in or with relation to, with reference to; concerning.
[1350–1400; Middle English relacion < Latin relātiō. See relate, -tion]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

relation

relativerelationship

These words are used to refer to people or to connections between people.

1. 'relation' and 'relative'

Your relations or relatives are the members of your family.

I said that I was a relation of her first husband.
I'm going to visit some relatives.

The relations between people or groups are the contacts between them and the way they behave towards each other.

Relations between the two men had not improved.
Britain has close relations with the US.
2. 'relationship'

You can talk in a similar way about the relationship between two people or groups.

The old relationship between the friends was quickly re-established.
Senor Zapatero has shown that he is keen to have a close relationship with Britain.

A relationship is also a close friendship between two people, especially one involving sexual or romantic feelings.

When the relationship ended two months ago, he was very upset.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts togetherrelation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
abstract entity, abstraction - a general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples
possession - anything owned or possessed
social relation - a relation between living organisms (especially between people)
spatial relation, position - the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated; "the position of the hands on the clock"; "he specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage"
ownership - the relation of an owner to the thing possessed; possession with the right to transfer possession to others
causality - the relation between causes and effects
human relationship, relationship - a relation between people; (`relationship' is often used where `relation' would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of `relationship' is for human relations or states of relatedness); "the relationship between mothers and their children"
function - a relation such that one thing is dependent on another; "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand"
association - a relation resulting from interaction or dependence; "flints were found in association with the prehistoric remains of the bear"; "the host is not always injured by association with a parasite"
logical relation - a relation between propositions
mathematical relation - a relation between mathematical expressions (such as equality or inequality)
foundation - the basis on which something is grounded; "there is little foundation for his objections"
connection, connexion, connectedness - a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it); "there was a connection between eating that pickle and having that nightmare"
unconnectedness - the lack of a connection between things
linguistic relation - a relation between linguistic forms or constituents
component part, part, portion, component, constituent - something determined in relation to something that includes it; "he wanted to feel a part of something bigger than himself"; "I read a portion of the manuscript"; "the smaller component is hard to reach"; "the animal constituent of plankton"
kinship, affinity - a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; "found a natural affinity with the immigrants"; "felt a deep kinship with the other students"; "anthropology's kinship with the humanities"
family relationship, kinship, relationship - (anthropology) relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption
magnitude relation, quantitative relation - a relation between magnitudes
control - a relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another; "measures for the control of disease"; "they instituted controls over drinking on campus"
business relation - a relation between different business enterprises
reciprocality, reciprocity - a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence
interrelatedness, interrelation, interrelationship - mutual or reciprocal relation or relatedness; "interrelationships of animal structure and function"
temporal relation - a relation involving time
comparison - relation based on similarities and differences
oppositeness, opposition - the relation between opposed entities
change - a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event; "he attributed the change to their marriage"
2.relation - the act of sexual procreation between a man and a womanrelation - the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman; the man's penis is inserted into the woman's vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur
sex activity, sexual activity, sexual practice - activities associated with sexual intercourse; "they had sex in the back seat"
insemination - the introduction of semen into the genital tract of a female
nookie, nooky, piece of tail, roll in the hay, screwing, screw - slang for sexual intercourse
hank panky - illicit sexual intercourse
penetration - the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman
criminal congress, unlawful carnal knowledge - forbidden or tabu sexual intercourse between individuals
3.relation - a person related by blood or marriagerelation - a person related by blood or marriage; "police are searching for relatives of the deceased"; "he has distant relations back in New Jersey"
individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"
kin group, kindred, kinship group, clan, kin, tribe - group of people related by blood or marriage
ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root - someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
cousin, cousin-german, first cousin, full cousin - the child of your aunt or uncle
descendant, descendent - a person considered as descended from some ancestor or race
in-law, relative-in-law - a relative by marriage
blood relation, blood relative, cognate, sib - one related by blood or origin; especially on sharing an ancestor with another
kin, kinsperson, family - a person having kinship with another or others; "he's kin"; "he's family"
enate, matrikin, matrilineal kin, matrilineal sib, matrisib - one related on the mother's side
agnate, patrikin, patrilineal kin, patrilineal sib, patrisib - one related on the father's side
kinsman - a male relative
kinswoman - a female relative
kissing cousin, kissing kin - a more or less distant relative; familiar enough to be greeted with a kiss
next of kin - the person who is (or persons who are) most closely related to a given person
offspring, progeny, issue - the immediate descendants of a person; "she was the mother of many offspring"; "he died without issue"
second cousin - a child of a first cousin
sib, sibling - a person's brother or sister
better half, married person, partner, spouse, mate - a person's partner in marriage
4.relation - an act of narrationrelation - an act of narration; "he was the hero according to his own relation"; "his endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable"
recital, yarn, narration - the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events; "his narration was hesitant"
5.relation - (law) the principle that an act done at a later time is deemed by law to have occurred at an earlier time; "his attorney argued for the relation back of the amended complaint to the time the initial complaint was filed"
judicial doctrine, judicial principle, legal principle - (law) a principle underlying the formulation of jurisprudence
law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
6.relation - (usually plural) mutual dealings or connections among persons or groups; "international relations"
dealings, traffic - social or verbal interchange (usually followed by `with')
plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

relation

noun
2. relative, kin, kinsman or kinswoman I call him Uncle though he's no relation.
plural noun
1. dealings, relationship, rapport, communications, meetings, terms, associations, affairs, contact, connections, interaction, intercourse, liaison The company has a track record of good employee relations.
2. family, relatives, tribe, clan, kin, kindred, kinsmen, kinsfolk all my relations come from the place
in relation to concerning, regarding, respecting, in connection with, with regard to, on the subject of, in respect of, with reference to, apropos He is the sixth person to be arrested in relation to the coup plot.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

relation

noun
1. A logical or natural association between two or more things:
Informal: hookup.
2. A person connected to another person by blood or marriage:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أحَدُ الأقْرِباءعَلاقَةعُلاقهعلاقَه
vztahpříbuznýrelacepříbuznost
forbindelseforholdpårørendeslægtning
suhe
kertomusomainenrelaatiosuhdesukulainen
veza
skyldmennitengsltengsl, samskipti
関係関連
관계
príbuznosť
sorodnikodnospovezava
relationsambandsläkting
ความเกี่ยวข้องกันของสิ่งของหรือบุคคล
sự liên quan

relation

[rɪˈleɪʃən] N
1. (= relationship) → relación f (to, with con) the relation between A and Bla relación entre A y B
to bear little/no relation to sthtener poco/no tener nada que ver con algo
it bears no relation to the factsno tiene que ver con los hechos
to bear a certain relation toguardar cierta relación con ...
to have little/no relation to sthtener poco/no tener nada que ver con algo
the story has little relation to historical factla versión tiene poco que ver con los hechos históricos
in relation to (= compared to) → en relación con, con relación a; (= in connection with) → en lo que se refiere a
Proust in relation to the French novelProust en relación con la novela francesa
doubts that parents may have in relation to their children's educationdudas que los padres pudieran tener en lo que se refiere a la ecucación de sus hijos
2. (= relative) → pariente mf, familiar mf
friends and relationsamigos mpl y familiares mpl
all my relations camevinieron todos mis parientes, vino toda mi familia
close relationpariente mf cercano/a
this grape is a close relation to the Gamayesta uva es de la misma familia que la uva Gamay
distant relationpariente mf lejano/a
she's no relationno es parienta mía
what relation is she to you?¿qué parentesco tiene contigo?
see also blood B
see also poor A1
3. (= contact) relationsrelaciones fpl
good relationsbuenas relaciones fpl
relations are rather strainedlas relaciones están algo tirantes
to break off relations with sbromper (relaciones) con algn
we have broken off relations with Ruritaniahemos roto las relaciones con Ruritania
we have business relations with themtenemos relaciones comerciales con ellos
diplomatic relationsrelaciones fpl diplomáticas
to enter into relations with sbestablecer relaciones con algn
to establish relations with sbestablecer relaciones con algn
international relationsrelaciones fpl internacionales
to have sexual relations with sbtener relaciones sexuales con algn
see also industrial, public C
see also race 2
4. (= narration) → relato m, relación f, narración f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

relation

[rɪˈleɪʃən]
n
(= relative) → parent(e) m/f
a distant relation → un(e) parent(e) éloigné(e)
He's a distant relation → C'est un parent éloigné.
She's a distant relation → C'est une parente éloignée.
my close relations → mes parents proches
my relations → ma famille
I've got relations in London → J'ai de la famille à Londres.
(= connection) → lien m
There is an obvious relation between diet and health → Il existe un lien évident entre régime alimentaire et santé.
to bear no relation to sth → être sans rapport avec qch
in relation to (= compared with) → par rapport à relations
npl (= friendly links) → relations fpl
diplomatic relations → relations diplomatiques
international relations → relations internationales
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

relation

n
(= person)Verwandte(r) mf; he’s a/no relation (of mine)er ist/ist nicht mit mir verwandt; what relation is she to you?wie ist sie mit Ihnen verwandt?
(= relationship)Beziehung f; to bear a relation toin Beziehung stehen zu; to bear no relation toin keinerlei Beziehung stehen zu, keinerlei Beziehung haben zu; to bear little relation towenig Beziehung haben zu; in relation to (= as regards)in Bezug auf (+acc); (= compared with)im Verhältnis zu
relations pl (= dealings, ties, sexual relations)Beziehungen pl; to have business relations with somebodygeschäftliche Beziehungen zu jdm haben; relations are rather straineddie Beziehungen sind etwas gespannt
no pl (of story)Erzählung f; (of details)Aufzählung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

relation

[rɪˈleɪʃn] n
a. (relationship) → rapporto, relazione f (Math) → relazione
to bear a relation to → corrispondere a
in relation to → con riferimento a
to have good relations with sb → essere in or avere buoni rapporti con qn
diplomatic/international relations → rapporti diplomatici/internazionali
sexual relations → rapporti sessuali
b. (family, relative) → parente m/f; (kinship) → parentela
what relation is she to you? → che legami di parentela ha con te?
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

relate

(rəˈleit) verb
1. to tell (a story etc). He related all that had happened to him.
2. (with to) to be about, concerned or connected with. Have you any information relating to the effect of penicillin on mice?
3. (with to) to behave towards. He finds it difficult to relate normally to his mother.
reˈlated adjective
1. belonging to the same family (as). I'm related to the Prime Minister; The Prime Minister and I are related.
2. connected. other related topics.
reˈlation noun
1. a person who belongs to the same family as oneself either by birth or because of marriage. uncles, aunts, cousins and other relations.
2. a relationship (between facts, events etc).
3. (in plural) contact and communications between people, countries etc. to establish friendly relations.
reˈlationship noun
1. the friendship, contact, communications etc which exist between people. He finds it very difficult to form lasting relationships.
2. the fact that, or the way in which, facts, events etc are connected. Is there any relationship between crime and poverty?
3. the state of being related by birth or because of marriage.
relative (ˈrelətiv) noun
a member of one's family; a relation. All his relatives attended the funeral.
adjective
1. compared with something else, or with each other, or with a situation in the past etc. the relative speeds of a car and a train; She used to be rich but now lives in relative poverty.
2. (of a pronoun, adjective or clause) referring back to something previously mentioned. the girl who sang the song; the girl who sang the song.
relatively (ˈrelətivli) adverb
when compared to someone or something else. He seems relatively happy now; This is a fairly unimportant problem, relatively speaking.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

relation

عَلاقَة vztah forhold Verbindung σχέση parentesco yhteys relation veza relazione 関係 관계 relatie relasjon stosunek relação отношение relation ความเกี่ยวข้องกันของสิ่งของหรือบุคคล ilişki sự liên quan 关系
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

re·la·tion

n. relación; comparación.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

relation

n relación f
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
So that examining the relation in time of the commands to the events, we find that a command can never be the cause of the event, but that a certain definite dependence exists between the two.
On examining the first relation, it appears, on one hand, that the Constitution is to be founded on the assent and ratification of the people of America, given by deputies elected for the special purpose; but, on the other, that this assent and ratification is to be given by the people, not as individuals composing one entire nation, but as composing the distinct and independent States to which they respectively belong.
I assure you, sir, I am no relation of Mr Allworthy; and if the world, who are incapable of setting a true value on his virtue, should think, in his behaviour to me, he hath dealt hardly by a relation, they do an injustice to the best of men: for I--but I ask your pardon, I shall trouble you with no particulars relating to myself; only as you seemed to think me a relation of Mr Allworthy, I thought proper to set you right in a matter that might draw some censures upon him, which I promise you I would rather lose my life than give occasion to."
Let each citizen then in the state have a thousand children, but let none of them be considered as the children of that individual, but let the relation of father and child be common to them all, and they will all be neglected.
The bourgeoisie has torn away from the family its sentimental veil,and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation.
The introduction to this felicity is in a private and tender relation of one to one, which is the enchantment of human life; which, like a certain divine rage and enthusiasm, seizes on man at one period and works a revolution in his mind and body; unites him to his race, pledges him to the domestic and civic relations, carries him with new sympathy into nature, enhances the power of the senses, opens the imagination, adds to his character heroic and sacred attributes, establishes marriage, and gives permanence to human society.
The nearest relation gives the first thrust, and is followed by all the rest according to their degrees of kindred; and they to whom it does not happen to strike while the offender is alive, dip the points of their lances in his blood to show that they partake in the revenge.
When it comes to any account of a relation say between a man and a woman--I mean an intimate or a curious or a suggestive one--where are we compared to them?
In this first lecture I shall be concerned to refute a theory which is widely held, and which I formerly held myself: the theory that the essence of everything mental is a certain quite peculiar something called "consciousness," conceived either as a relation to objects, or as a pervading quality of psychical phenomena.
Expressions which are in no way composite signify substance, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, position, state, action, or affection.
What the nature of his claim on her might be seemed less intelligible -- unless it was the claim of a poor relation. Had Mrs.
My peculiar relation to the writer of the following narratives is such that I must ask the reader to overlook the absence of explanation as to how they came into my possession.