relation

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɹəˈlæ̝ɪʃ(ə)n/ UK /ɹɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ See IPA manual

Freq #6727

Meanings

1

noun
The way in which two or more things are connected.

The relation between diet and health is complex.
2

noun
(usually plural) The way people, groups, or countries deal with each other.

The two nations are working to improve their relations.
3

noun
A member of your family; a relative.

Yes, he's a relation of mine, but only a distant one.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the way in which two or... connection link relationship

More association bearing concern correspondence pertinence reference relevance

Opposites

irrelation

Word family

Forms relations

Derived forms corelationdisrelationgrandrelationinterrelation irrelationmetarelationmisrelationnonrelationrelationalrelationismrelationistrelationless

Related forms correlation relate relational relativerelator

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

quantitative relation
a relationship expressed in terms of measurable amounts

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English relacion, relacioun, from Anglo-Norman relacioun and Old French relacion (whence French relation), from Latin relātiō, noun of process form from perfect passive participle relātus (“related”), from verb referō (“to refer, to relate”), from prefix re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear, to carry”). By surface analysis, relate + -ion. Doublet of relazione.

*telh₂- (bear) Proto-Indo-European relacion Middle English relacioun xno relātiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# relation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹəˈlæ̝ɪʃ(ə)n/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
**Frequency rank:** 6727

## Meanings
1. The way in which two or more things are connected.
2. (usually plural) The way people, groups, or countries deal with each other.
3. A member of your family; a relative.

## Examples
- The relation between diet and health is complex.
- The two nations are working to improve their relations.
- Yes, he's a relation of mine, but only a distant one.

## Synonyms
- association
- bearing
- concern
- correspondence
- pertinence
- reference
- relevance

## Antonyms
- irrelation

## Derived Forms
- corelation
- disrelation
- grandrelation
- interrelation
- irrelation
- metarelation
- misrelation
- nonrelation
- relational
- relationism
- relationist
- relationless

## Related Forms
- correlation
- relate
- relational
- relative
- relator

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *telh₂- (bear)
- Root: relacion
- Root: relacioun
- Root: relātiō

## Etymology
From Middle English relacion, relacioun, from Anglo-Norman relacioun and Old French relacion (whence French relation), from Latin relātiō, noun of process form from perfect passive participle relātus (“related”), from verb referō (“to refer, to relate”), from prefix re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear, to carry”). By surface analysis, relate + -ion. Doublet of relazione.

## AI Etymology
Relation comes from Middle English relacion, relacioun, from Anglo-Norman relacioun and Old French relacion (whence French relation), from Latin relātiō, noun of process form from perfect passive participle relātus (“related”), from verb referō (“to refer, to relate”), from prefix re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear, to carry”). By surface analysis, relate + -ion. Doublet of relazione. Modern senses include the way in which two or more things are connected. and (usually plural) The way people, groups, or countries deal with each other.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as corelation, disrelation, grandrelation, interrelation, irrelation, and metarelation and related forms such as correlation, relate, relational, and relative.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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