Relations Rɪˈleɪʃn Countries Noun Diplomatic/International/Foreign Us Chinese Teacher Student Neighbouring

• diplomatic/international/foreign relations
• us-chinese relations
• teacher-student relations
• relations with neighbouring countries are under strain at present.

relation

1. the way in which two people, groups or countries behave towards each other or deal with each other
• SEE ALSO industrial relations
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/industrial-relations
• diplomatic/international/foreign relations
• US-Chinese relations
• teacher-student relations
• Relations with neighbouring countries are under strain at present.
• We seek to improve relations between our two countries.
• to have sexual relations (= to have sex)

Extra Examples

• Relations between the two countries are strained.
• Relations between the two states have improved.
• Renewed efforts are being made to improve the strained relations between the two countries.
• The US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba's communist government.
• The move soured relations between Washington and Moscow.
• Venezuela re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba.
• a breakdown of marital relations leading to divorce
• a period of improved trade relations
• the mechanisms that regulate the relations between labour and capital
• the need to establish good relations with our European partners
• the system governing social relations in India
• She didn't know he was having relations with another girl.
• He is responsible for press relations and marketing communications at the company.
• There are close relations among firms and their suppliers.
• We are moving to deepen the existing bilateral relations between the three countries.
• She maintained friendly relations with Stephen's family.
• gender relations
• The story explores the power relations between men and women.
• The meeting will seek to normalize relations between the two countries.
2. the way in which two or more things are connected
• the relation between rainfall and crop yields
• the relation of the farmer to the land
• The fee they are offering bears no relation to the amount of work involved.
• Little of what he said has any relation to fact.
• I have some comments to make in relation to (= about) this matter.
• Its brain is small in relation to (= compared with) its body.

Extra Examples

• He established a relation between asthma and certain types of work.
• Her work explores the relation between technology and culture.
• The right side of the brain deals with spatial relations between objects.
• The study shows the close relation between poverty and ill health.
• the complex relation between business and society
• the relation of the subject to the object
• Similar policies were pursued in the 1970s, particularly in relation to health services.
• The energy an animal uses is in direct relation to speed and body mass.
• The fee bears little relation to the service provided.
• The film bore no relation to the book.
• There are conflicting views in relation to this issue.
3. a person who is in the same family as somebody else
• a close/near/distant relation of mine
• a relation by marriage
• a party for friends and relations
• He's called Brady too, but we're no relation (= not related).
• Is he any relation to you?
• What relation is Rita to you?

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin relatio(n-), from referre ‘bring back’, from re- ‘back’ + ferre ‘bring’.