1
- considered in relation or in proportion to something else相关的; 比较的, 互比的：
the relative effectiveness of the various mechanisms is not known.
无人知道各种机制的互比效力。
1.1
- existing or possessing a specified characteristic only in comparison to something else; not absolute相对（性）的：
she went down the steps into the relative darkness of the dining room
她走下台阶, 步入相比之下显得黑暗的餐厅
the firms are relative newcomers to computers.
相对地说, 这些公司在电脑行业里还是新手。
2
- Grammar denoting a pronoun, determiner, or adverb that refers to an expressed or implied antecedent and attaches a subordinate clause to it, e.g. which, who, (of a clause) attached to an antecedent by a relative word【语法】（代词、限定词或副词）关系的; （从句）由关系词引导的。
3
- Music (of major and minor keys) having the same key signature【乐】（大小调）调号相同的。
4
- (of a service rank) corresponding in grade to another in a different service（与不同军种的军阶）相应（或对应）的。
1
- a person connected by blood or marriage血亲; 姻亲; 亲属：
much of my time is spent visiting relatives.
我把很多时间用来看望亲戚。
1.1
- a species related to another by common origin亲缘动物; 亲缘植物：
the plant is a relative of ivy.
这种植物是常春藤的亲缘植物。
2
- Grammar a relative pronoun, determiner, or adverb.【语法】关系代词; 关系限定词; 关系副词。
3
- Philosophy a term, thing, or concept which is dependent on something else【哲学】关系项。
短语
relative to
1
- in comparison with与…相比：
the figures suggest that girls are underachieving relative to boys.
统计数字表明女生的学习成绩不如男生。
1.1
- in terms of a connection to从与…的关系（这一角度）出发, 联系…（来考虑…）：
we must consider the location of the hospital relative to its catchment area.
我们必须从就医受托区这一角度出发考虑医院的选址。
2
- in connection with; concerning关于, 涉及：
if you have any queries relative to payment, please contact us.
如对付款有疑问, 请与我们联系。
派生词
relatival
/ˌreləˈtaɪvəl/ adjective （限名词义项2）词源
late Middle English: from Old French relatif, -ive, from late Latin relativus 'having reference or relation' （see RELATE）.