I. rə̇ˈlāt, rēˈ-, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin relatus (suppletive past participle of referre to carry back, refer, relate), from re- + latus, suppletive past participle of ferre to carry — more at refer , tolerate
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give an account of : tell
tradition relates that he once rode horseback all the way to Washington — American Guide Series: North Carolina
b. archaic : say , assert , repute
2. : to show or establish a logical or causal connection between
seeks to relate poverty and crime
relate the flow of individual consciousness to large political and social contours — Warren Beck
utterly unable to relate these two events
intransitive verb
1. : to apply or take effect retroactively
a will upon approval relates back to the date of testator's death
2. obsolete : to give an account or report
I might relate of thousands — John Milton
3. : to be in relationship : have reference
public acts that relate to crime prevention
most of the lecture related to the causes of common ailments
4. of a person : to have meaningful social relationships : interact realistically
a boy with a long history of emotional maladjustment and inability to relate well to people — Edwin Powers & Helen Witmer
Synonyms:
relate , rehearse , recite , recount , narrate , describe , state , and report can all mean to tell orally or in writing the details or circumstances of a situation or combination of events. relate implies the giving of an account, usually detailed or orderly, of something one has experienced
related how it screamed, how it followed him in the brush, how he took to his boat, how its eyes gleamed from the shore — John Burroughs
rehearse usually suggests a repetition, a summary, a retold account, or a going over as in one's mind
these defects arise out of the difficulties which have been rehearsed in these opening pages — Orient Book World
in the interval … I rehearsed a great many ways of meeting him — Mary Austin
recite and the more common recount imply a particularity, often enumeration, of detail, recount often implying a retelling
would be asked to fill out a questionnaire reciting what the condition of the lot was, the view of the lot, the orientation of the lot, the size of their family, their needs, what they wanted to achieve — J.W.Rouse
a review that merely recited the contents of a book — Raymond Walters b.1912
often recounts the conversations with which they filled the long, hot days of driving — L.P.Smith
recounted the story he had heard from the soldier — Hanama Tasaki
narrate suggests a chronological account often with the use of devices of literary narration as plot or movement toward a climax
this is not the place to narrate the achievements of the Canadian forces in that tremendous struggle — B.K.Sandwell
it narrates the story of the shepherd Aminta and his love for the shepherdess Silvia — R.A.Hall b.1911
describe emphasizes details which provide a picture or a representation to other than visual senses
bitter sea and glowing light, bright clear air, dry as dry, — that describes the place — Richard Jefferies
a woman to be described as stout or thin, as jolly or crabbed, but always mature — Joseph Conrad
the water, rich in iron and sulphur, is described as similar to that of the Vichy springs in France — American Guide Series: Minnesota
state suggests definiteness of detail and economy of presentation
state the case rather than render an opinion
state facts, then explain them
report implies a recounting, especially factual, for the information of others, as the readers of a newspaper
the human tedium which the skilled novelist suggests without reporting in grim detail — Time
newspapers are already reporting the ravages of dysentery — Justina Hill
similar practices … are reported from other parts of the world — J.G.Frazer
Synonym: see in addition join .
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin relatus, suppletive past participle of referre
: something related to something else ; especially : the first term in a relationship — compare correlate