relative
♦ rela|tive /r'elətɪv/ (relatives)
1 [N-COUNT]
Your relatives are the members of your family.
Get a relative to look after the children.
= relation
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use relative to say that something is true to a certain degree, especially when compared with other things of the same kind.
The fighting resumed after a period of relative calm...
= comparative
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use relative when you are comparing the quality or size of two things.
They chatted about the relative merits of London and Paris as places to live...
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
Relative to something means with reference to it or in comparison with it.
Japanese interest rates rose relative to America's...
5 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If you say that something is relative, you mean that it needs to be considered and judged in relation to other things.
Fitness is relative; one must always ask `Fit for what?'...
≠ absolute
6 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
If one animal, plant, language, or invention is a relative of another, they have both developed from the same type of animal, plant, language, or invention.
The pheasant is a close relative of the Guinea hen.rela|tive clause (relative clauses)
[N-COUNT]
In grammar, a relative clause is a subordinate clause which specifies or gives information about a person or thing. Relative clauses come after a noun or pronoun and, in English, often begin with a relative pronoun such as `who', `which', or `that'.rela|tive pro|noun (relative pronouns)
[N-COUNT]
A relative pronoun is a word such as `who', `that', or `which' that is used to introduce a relative clause. `Whose', `when', `where', and `why' are generally called relative pronouns, though they are actually adverbs.
1 [N-COUNT]
Your relatives are the members of your family.
Get a relative to look after the children.
= relation
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use relative to say that something is true to a certain degree, especially when compared with other things of the same kind.
The fighting resumed after a period of relative calm...
= comparative
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use relative when you are comparing the quality or size of two things.
They chatted about the relative merits of London and Paris as places to live...
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
Relative to something means with reference to it or in comparison with it.
Japanese interest rates rose relative to America's...
5 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If you say that something is relative, you mean that it needs to be considered and judged in relation to other things.
Fitness is relative; one must always ask `Fit for what?'...
≠ absolute
6 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
If one animal, plant, language, or invention is a relative of another, they have both developed from the same type of animal, plant, language, or invention.
The pheasant is a close relative of the Guinea hen.rela|tive clause (relative clauses)
[N-COUNT]
In grammar, a relative clause is a subordinate clause which specifies or gives information about a person or thing. Relative clauses come after a noun or pronoun and, in English, often begin with a relative pronoun such as `who', `which', or `that'.rela|tive pro|noun (relative pronouns)
[N-COUNT]
A relative pronoun is a word such as `who', `that', or `which' that is used to introduce a relative clause. `Whose', `when', `where', and `why' are generally called relative pronouns, though they are actually adverbs.