re ‧ late S2 W1 /rɪˈleɪt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ relation , relations, ↑ relationship , ↑ relative ; adjective : ↑ related ≠ ↑ unrelated , ↑ relative ; verb : ↑ relate ; adverb : ↑ relatively ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of referre ; ⇨ ↑ refer ]
1 . [intransitive] if two things relate, they are connected in some way SYN connect :
I don’t understand how the two ideas relate.
relate to
The charges of fraud relate to events that took place over ten years ago.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say something has (something) to do with another thing, rather than relates to it:
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The changes have to do with events that took place over ten years ago.
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I don't understand what the two ideas have to do with each other.
2 . [transitive] if you relate two different things, you show how they are connected
relate something to something
The report seeks to relate the rise in crime to an increase in unemployment.
3 . [transitive] formal to tell someone about events that have happened to you or to someone else
relate something to somebody
He later related the whole story to me.
4 . [intransitive] to feel that you understand someone’s problem, situation etc
relate to
Laurie finds it difficult to relate to children.
I know he feels upset, and I can relate to that.
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THESAURUS
▪ tell to give someone information by speaking or writing to them:
She wrote to tell me she was getting married.
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Can you tell us where the nearest garage is?
▪ let somebody know especially spoken to tell someone something when you know more about it:
Let me know your new address as soon as you can.
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Let us know what happens at the interview.
▪ pass a message on to somebody ( also pass it on informal ) to tell another person the information that has been told to you:
She’s with a client at the moment, but I’ll pass the message on to her.
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If I get any news, I’ll pass it on.
▪ brief to give someone all the necessary information about a situation, so that they can do their work:
Police officers were briefed before going out to arrest the suspects.
▪ relate formal to tell someone about something that happened to you or to someone else:
One girl related a story about a friend who had accidentally become pregnant.
▪ recount formal to tell someone about a series of events:
The guide recounted the history of the castle, from the 1300s onwards.
▪ bring something to sb’s attention to tell someone about something that they did not know about, but which they need to know about:
I wanted to bring the matter to your attention.
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She was the first person to study the effects of pesticides, and to bring them to people’s attention.
▪ fill somebody in informal to tell someone about things that have happened recently, especially at work:
Can you fill Robert in on the progress we’ve made while he’s been on holiday?