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relation

 - 6 dictionary results

re⋅la⋅tion

[ri-ley-shuhn]
–noun
1. an existing connection; a significant association between or among things: the relation between cause and effect.
2. relations,
a. the various connections between peoples, countries, etc.: foreign relations.
b. the various connections in which persons are brought together: business and social relations.
c. sexual intercourse.
3. the mode or kind of connection between one person and another, between an individual and God, etc.
4. connection between persons by blood or marriage.
5. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relative: his wife's relations.
6. the act of relating, narrating, or telling; narration.
7. Law. a principle whereby effect is given to an act done at one time as if it had been done at a previous time.
8. Mathematics.
a. a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
b. a single- or multiple-valued function.
9. in or with relation to, with reference to; concerning: It's best to plan with relation to anticipated changes in one's earnings.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME relacion < L relātiōn- (s. of relātiō). See relate, -ion


re⋅la⋅tion⋅less, adjective


1. relationship; tie, link. 2a, b. association. 4. relationship, kinship. 6. recitation, recital, description.


1. independence.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To relation
re·la·tion   (rĭ-lā'shən)   
n.  
  1. A logical or natural association between two or more things; relevance of one to another; connection: the relation between smoking and heart disease.

  2. The connection of people by blood or marriage; kinship.

  3. A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.

  4. The way in which one person or thing is connected with another: the relation of parent to child.

  5. relations

    1. The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters: international relations.

    2. Sexual intercourse.

    3. The act of telling or narrating.

    4. A narrative; an account.

  6. Reference; regard: in relation to your inquiry.

    1. The act of telling or narrating.

    2. A narrative; an account.

  7. Law The principle whereby an act done at a later date is considered to have been done on a prior date.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: re·la·tion
Pronunciation: ri-'lA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : an aspect or quality (as resemblance or causality) thatconnects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together, as being of the same kind, or as being logically connected relation between theuse of tobacco and lung cancer —Current Biography> relation of time and space>
2 : the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groupsassume toward one another relations>
3 a : the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social matters) b relations pl : SEXUAL INTERCOURSE relations had occurred —Newsweek> —re·la·tion·al /-&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

relation re·la·tion (rĭ-lā'shən)
n.

  1. A logical or natural association between two or more things; relevance of one to another; connection.

  2. The connection of people by blood or marriage; kinship.

  3. A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.

  4. The positional relationship of the teeth or other structures in the mouth.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

relation
1. A subset of the product of two sets, R : A x B. If (a, b) is an element of R then we write a R b, meaning a is related to b by R. A relation may be: reflexive (a R a), symmetric (a R b => b R a), transitive (a R b & b R c => a R c), antisymmetric (a R b & b R a => a = b) or total (a R b or b R a).
See equivalence relation, partial ordering, pre-order, total ordering.
2. A table in a relational database.
(1995-02-28)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

relation

see poor relation; relative (in relation) to.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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