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related

adj. · v.
US //ˌɹiˈɫeɪtɪd// UK //ɹɪlˈeɪtɪd// re·lat·ed
  1. 1 connected (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    having a connection or being similar in some way.

    connected by reason of an established or discoverable relation; often used to describe topics, events, or concepts.

    Example

    The police believe the two crimes are related because they happened on the same street.

    Example

    The researchers discovered that the decline in local bird populations was directly related to the increased use of specific pesticides in nearby farms.

    Pitfall
    The two problems are related with each other.
    The two problems are related to each other.

    Use the preposition 'to' after 'related' when showing a connection between two things.

  2. 2 family (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    belonging to the same family.

    connected by blood, marriage, or common ancestry.

    Example

    Are you two related? You look very much like your brother.

    Example

    Although they share the same surname and grew up in the same small village, the two families are not actually related by blood.

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  1. 3 told a story (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    told a story or described a series of events.

    the past tense of 'relate', meaning to give an account of or narrate a sequence of events.

    Example

    The witness related the events of the night to the judge.

    Example

    In his memoirs, the diplomat related several anecdotes concerning his private meetings with world leaders during the crisis.

    Usage

    This sense is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the story or information being shared.

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