adj (1)相关(对)的，比较的(considered in comparison with sth else，not absolute)[A(to)]：the～advantages of living here and in town/speeds of a car and a train 住在这里与住在城里的相对有利条件/汽车与火车的相对速度;the～merits of the two cars/naval strengths of two countries 这两辆汽车相对而言的优点/两个国家相对而言的海军实力;live in～poverty/comfort 生活得比较清苦/舒服;live in～isolation 过着近乎深居简出的生活;a～newcomer 一个来得比较晚的新人;～density 相对密度;Expensive/Happiness is (a)～(conception). 昂贵/幸福是相对而言的(概念)。There is a shortage of labour～to the demand for it. 与需求相比，劳动力显得短缺。R～to our house，his house is a palace. 与我们的房子相比，他的房子简直是座宫殿。〖同〗comparative，related;〖反〗unrelated，absolute;

(2)有关的，关于……的(connected with sth or sb)[A(to)](fml)(用于n之后)：the comment/fact/papers (that is/are)～to our work (the accident) 与我们的工作(这次事故)有关的评论/事实/文件;He said nothing～to his plans about returning/the effect of penicillin. 关于他返回的计划/青霉素的疗效他什么都没说。～to each other 相互有关;The weight is～to the size. 重量与体积有关。He has had experience in electronics and other～fields. 他已经具有电子和其他相关领域的经验。〖同〗relevant;〖反〗irrelevant;

(3)(语法)关系的(belonging to a class of words that function as conjunctions in introducing clauses)[作attrib]：a～pronoun/adverb/clause 关系代词/副词/从句;

← re′late v;

→ ′relatively adv 相对地;比较地;相当地;′relativism n 相对主义;相对性;͵rela′tivity n 相对性;相对论;͵relati′vistic adj 相对论的;

n 亲戚(属)(person who is related by blood or marriage)[C]：a distant/remote/direct/near/close～一位远亲/远亲/直系亲属/近亲/近亲;an extinct～已故的亲属;All his～s attended the funeral. 他所有的亲戚都参加了葬礼。〖同〗relation;

【辨异】relative与relation的区别见RELATION。