2
affair: She was having an affair with someone at work.
romance: …a holiday romance.
fling: She claims she had a brief fling with him 30 years ago.
liaison: She embarked on a series of liaisons with society figures.
3
connection: The police say he had no connection with the security forces.
bond: The experience created a very special bond between us.
association: The association between the two companies stretches back thirty years.
rela|tive ◆◇◇ /re lət I v/ (relatives )
1 N‑COUNT Your relatives are the members of your family. □ Get a relative to look after the children.
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.
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 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?'.
6 N‑COUNT 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. □ [+ of ] The pheasant is a close relative of the Guinea hen. SYNONYMS relative NOUN 1
relation: …visits to friends and relations.
kin: She has gone to live with her husband's kin.
family: Her family came to Los Angeles at the turn of the century.
re la|tive clau se (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|ly ◆◇◇ /re lət I vli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv] Relatively means to a certain degree, especially when compared with other things of the same kind. □ The sums needed are relatively small. SYNONYMS relatively ADV 1
comparatively: …a comparatively small nation.
rather: I grew up in rather unusual circumstances.
somewhat: He concluded that Oswald was somewhat abnormal.
re la|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.
rela|tiv|ism /re lət I v I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Relativism is the belief that the truth is not always the same but varies according to circumstances. □ Traditionalists may howl, but in today's world, cultural relativism rules.
rela|tiv|ist /re lət I v I st/ (relativists ) ADJ A relativist position or argument is one according to which the truth is not always the same, but varies according to circumstances. □ He took a relativist position - what is considered immoral depends on the social structure.
rela|tiv|ity /re lət I v I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT The theory of relativity is Einstein's theory concerning space, time, and motion. [TECHNICAL ]
re|launch /ri ːlɔ ːntʃ/ (relaunches , relaunching , relaunched ) VERB To relaunch something such as a company, a product, or a scheme means to start it again or to produce it in a different way. □ [V n] He is hoping to relaunch his film career. ● N‑COUNT Relaunch is also a noun. □ Football kit relaunches are simply a way of boosting sales.
re|lax ◆◇◇ /r I læ ks/ (relaxes , relaxing , relaxed )
1 VERB If you relax or if something relaxes you, you feel more calm and less worried or tense. □ [V ] I ought to relax and stop worrying about it. □ [V n] Do something that you know relaxes you.
2 VERB When a part of your body relaxes , or when you relax it, it becomes less stiff or firm. □ [V n] Massage is used to relax muscles, relieve stress and improve the circulation. □ [V ] His face relaxes into a contented smile.
3 VERB If you relax your grip or hold on something, you hold it less tightly than before. □ [V n] He gradually relaxed his grip on the arms of the chair.
4 VERB If you relax a rule or your control over something, or if it relaxes , it becomes less firm or strong. □ [V ] Rules governing student conduct relaxed somewhat in recent years. □ [V n] How much can the President relax his grip over the nation?
5 → see also relaxed , relaxing
re|laxa|tion /riː lækse I ʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Relaxation is a way of spending time in which you rest and feel comfortable. □ You should be able to find the odd moment for relaxation.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If there is relaxation of a rule or control, it is made less firm or strong. □ [+ of/in ] …the relaxation of travel restrictions.
re|laxed /r I læ kst/
1 ADJ If you are relaxed , you are calm and not worried or tense. □ As soon as I had made the final decision, I felt a lot more relaxed.