Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To give an account of (an occurrence, for example); narrate. synonym: describe.
  • intransitive verb To establish or demonstrate a connection between.
  • intransitive verb To have connection, relation, or reference.
  • intransitive verb To have or establish a social relationship; interact.
  • intransitive verb To understand or react favorably to someone or something.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Anything considered as being in a relation to another thing; something considered as being the first term of a relation to another thing. Also relatum.
  • To bring back; restore.
  • To bring into relation; refer.
  • To refer or ascribe as to a source or origin; connect with; assert a relation with.
  • To tell; recite; narrate: as, to relate the story of Priam.
  • To ally by connection or blood.
  • Synonyms To recount, rehearse, report, detail, describe. See account, n.
  • To have reference or respect; have regard; stand in some relation; have some understood position when considered in connection with something else.
  • To make reference; take account.
  • To have relation or connection.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To stand in some relation; to have bearing or concern; to pertain; to refer; -- with to.
  • intransitive verb R. & Obs. To make reference; to take account.
  • transitive verb obsolete To bring back; to restore.
  • transitive verb Obs. or R. To refer; to ascribe, as to a source.
  • transitive verb To recount; to narrate; to tell over.
  • transitive verb To ally by connection or kindred.
  • transitive verb [R.] to vent thoughts in words.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To tell in a descriptive way.
  • verb transitive To give an association.
  • verb transitive To make a connection from sth to sth (e.g. to relate this to that).
  • verb intransitive To have a connection.
  • verb intransitive To interact.
  • verb intransitive To respond through reaction.
  • verb intransitive To identify with, understand.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb give an account of
  • verb be in a relationship with
  • verb be relevant to
  • verb have or establish a relationship to
  • verb make a logical or causal connection

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Obsolete French relater, from Old French, from Latin relātus, past participle of referre : re-, re- + lātus, brought; see telə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō ("carry back; report").

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Examples

  • Additionally, the three instances of the title relate conceptually to the three-story structure of the novel.

    Archive 2008-08-01 Sean Williams 2008

  • How does the title relate to the rest of the text?

    Archive 2007-04-01 Bruce Schauble 2007

  • How does the title relate to the thought of Bataille?

    Against Architecture (1989) – Denis Hollier « Jahsonic 2007

  • How does the title relate to the rest of the text?

    The Things They Carry Bruce Schauble 2007

  • How does the title relate to the thought of Bataille?

    02 « September « 2007 « Jahsonic 2007

  • In addition to about 3 weeks of indifference on Mubarak's part, he and his VP have been provoking people with the manner of delivering speeches and even the choice of words: "Road map?" how does this term relate to the Egyptian demands, it is merely used as a misleading political cliché used before by Israel and Jordan.

    The Independent - Frontpage RSS Feed 2011

  • In addition to about 3 weeks of indifference on Mubarak's part, he and his VP have been provoking people with the manner of delivering speeches and even the choice of words: "Road map?" how does this term relate to the Egyptian demands, it is merely used as a misleading political cliché used before by Israel and Jordan.

    The Independent - Frontpage RSS Feed 2011

  • As if in relate of a king's barbarous thoughts, Oswald right widely separated appears lusting for a red red blood of bad Gloucester, a attempted attempted attempted attempted murder which would win a menial reward from Goneril.

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • As if in relate of a king's barbarous thoughts, Oswald right widely separated appears lusting for a red red blood of bad Gloucester, a attempted attempted attempted attempted murder which would win a menial reward from Goneril.

    Philadelphia Reflections: Shakspere Society of Philadelphia admin 2009

  • Many valuable relics have been found, among which, curious to relate, is the smoke-consuming device of Biedenbach's mentioned in the narrative.

    Chapter 18: The Shadow of Sonoma 2010

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