social, political, or personal connections or dealings between or among individuals, groups, nations, etc family or relatives sexual intercourse
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
re•la•tion /rɪˈleɪʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
re•la•tion•al, adj. See -lat-1.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- association between or among things;
connection;
relationship:[uncountable]the relation between cause and effect. - relations, [plural]
- the different connections or dealings between peoples, countries, etc.:foreign relations; business relations.
- sexual intercourse.
- a person who is related by blood or marriage;
relative:[countable]The groom shook hands with his bride's relations.
- Idioms in or with relation to, with reference to;
concerning:What is her role in relation to the work of our division?
re•la•tion•al, adj. See -lat-1.
re•la•tion
(ri lā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
re•la′tion•less, adj.
- an existing connection;
a significant association between or among things:the relation between cause and effect. - relations:
- the various connections between peoples, countries, etc.:foreign relations.
- the various connections in which persons are brought together:business and social relations.
- sexual intercourse.
- the mode or kind of connection between one person and another, between an individual and God, etc.
- connection between persons by blood or marriage.
- a person who is related by blood or marriage;
relative:his wife's relations. - the act of relating, narrating, or telling;
narration. - [Law.]a principle whereby effect is given to an act done at one time as if it had been done at a previous time.
- [Math.]
- a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
- a single- or multiple-valued function.
- in or with relation to, with reference to;
concerning:It's best to plan with relation to anticipated changes in one's earnings.
- Latin relātiōn- (stem of relātiō). See relate, -ion
- Middle English relacion 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged relationship; tie, link.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged a, b. association.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged relationship, kinship.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged recitation, recital, description.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged independence.
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