To relate means to show or understand a connection between things. When a teacher relates a math problem to pizza slices, she's helping students see how fractions work in real life. When a scientist relates rainfall patterns to crop yields, he's demonstrating how one thing affects another.

The word also means to tell a story or recount events. A historian might relate the details of an important battle, or your friend might relate what happened during their vacation. In this sense, relating something means sharing information about it.

Perhaps most personally, to relate to someone or something means you understand it because you've experienced something similar. If you've ever felt nervous before a big presentation, you can relate to a character in a book who feels the same way. When you say “I can really relate to that,” you're saying the experience resonates with your own life. This kind of relating builds empathy and connection between people.

Things that connect to each other are related. Math and science are related subjects because they both use logical reasoning. You might have a relation (a relative, or family member) visiting for the holidays.