relate

[ ri-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

1. to tell; give an account of (an event, circumstance, etc.).

   Synonyms: repeat, detail, delineate, narrate

2. to bring into or establish association, connection, or relation:

   to relate events to probable causes.

   Synonyms: ally

   Antonyms: dissociate

verb (used without object)

, re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing.

1. to have reference (often followed by to ).
2. to have some relation (often followed by to ).
3. to establish a social or sympathetic relationship with a person or thing:

   two sisters unable to relate to each other.

relate

/ rɪˈleɪt /

verb

1. tr to tell or narrate (a story, information, etc)
2. often foll by to to establish association (between two or more things) or (of something) to have relation or reference (to something else)
3. introften foll byto to form a sympathetic or significant relationship (with other people, things, etc)

Derived Forms

• reˈlatable, adjective
• reˈlater, noun

Other Words From

• re·lat·a·ble adjective
• re·lat·er noun
• mis·re·late verb misrelated misrelating
• pre·re·late verb (used with object) prerelated prerelating
• un·re·lat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of relate¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin relātus, past participle of referre “to carry back” ( refer )

Word History and Origins

Origin of relate¹

C16: from Latin relātus brought back, from referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear; see refer

Synonym Study

Relate, recite, recount, rehearse mean to tell, report, or describe in some detail an occurrence or circumstance. To relate is to give an account of happenings, events, circumstances, etc.: to relate one's adventures. To recite may mean to give details consecutively, but more often applies to the repetition from memory of something learned with verbal exactness: to recite a poem. To recount is usually to set forth consecutively the details of an occurrence, argument, experience, etc., to give an account in detail: to recount an unpleasant experience. Rehearse implies some formality and exactness in telling, sometimes with repeated performance as for practice before final delivery: to rehearse one's side of a story.

Example Sentences

In the second study, Garret Miyake, a chemist at Colorado State University, and his colleagues report the development of a related organic catalyst that’s more selective.

From Science Magazine

It also said "some departments appeared to lack central tracking systems" for appointments, and identified two "technical" breaches of the recruitment principles relating to record keeping issues.

From BBC

Asked if Sir Keir expected ministers to tell the truth on their CVs, she said the row “relates to the chancellor’s time before she was the chancellor”.

From BBC

Diallo said there are also potential issues related to polarization methods, but these create opportunities.

From Science Daily

Their analysis reveals that members related to a child's extended family have likely played a greater role in transmitting knowledge to children than previously thought.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• affect
• apply
• ascribe
• assign
• associate
• compare
• concern
• connect
• link
• pertain
• refer