rel·a·tive
(rĕl′ə-tĭv)adj.1. Considered in comparison or relation to something else: an animal with a large brain relative to body size; the relative quiet of the suburbs.
2. Having pertinence or relevance; connected or related: How are those remarks relative to the discussion?
3. Grammar Referring to or qualifying an antecedent, as the pronoun who in the man who was on TV or that in the dictionary that I use.
4. Music Having the same key signature. Used of major and minor scales and keys: A minor is the relative minor of C major.
n.1. a. A person related to another by heredity, adoption, or marriage.
b. A species or other taxon that shares a common ancestor, usually a relatively recent ancestor, with another: The jaguar is a relative of the lion.
2. Grammar A relative pronoun.
[Middle English, from Old French relatif, from Late Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, past participle of referre, to relate; see relate.]
rel′a·tive·ness n.
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.
relative
(ˈrɛlətɪv) adj1. having meaning or significance only in relation to something else; not absolute: a relative value.
2. (
prenominal) (of a scientific quantity) being measured or stated relative to some other substance or measurement:
relative humidity;
relative density. Compare
absolute10 3. (prenominal) comparative or respective: the relative qualities of speed and accuracy.
4. (foll by: to) in proportion (to); corresponding (to): earnings relative to production.
5. having reference (to); pertinent (to): matters not relative to the topic under discussion.
6. (Grammar)
grammar denoting or belonging to a class of words that function as subordinating conjunctions in introducing relative clauses. In English, relative pronouns and determiners include
who, which, and
that. Compare
demonstrative5,
interrogative3 7. (Grammar) grammar denoting or relating to a clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun or pronoun occurring earlier in the sentence
8. (Music, other) (of a musical key or scale) having the same key signature as another key or scale: C major is the relative major of A minor.
n9. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relation
10. (Grammar) a relative pronoun, clause, or grammatical construction
[C16: from Late Latin relātīvus referring]
ˈrelativeness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
rel•a•tive
(ˈrɛl ə tɪv)
n. 1. a person who is connected with another by blood or marriage.
2. something having, or standing in, some relation to something else.
3. something dependent upon external conditions for its specific nature, size, etc. (opposed to
absolute).
4. a relative pronoun, adjective, or adverb.
adj. 5. considered in relation to something else; comparative: the relative merits of gas and electric heating.
6. existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent: Happiness is relative.
7. having relation or connection.
8. having reference; relevant; pertinent (usu. fol. by to): the facts relative to the case.
9. correspondent; proportionate.
10. depending for significance upon something else: “Better” is a relative term.
11. of or designating a word that introduces a subordinate clause and refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause: the relative pronoun who in “That was the woman who called”; the relative adverb where in “This is the house where I was born.”
12. (of a musical key) having the same key signature as another key: a relative minor.
[1350–1400; Middle English
relatif (n.) (< Middle French) < Late Latin
relātīvus (adj.); see
relate,
-ive]
rel′a•tive•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
relation
relative relationshipThese 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