Copper + zinc alloy. "Brass instruments": trumpets, tubas, etc. "Top brass" = high-ranking officials. "Bold as brass": shamelessly confident.
a yellow metal alloy of copper and zinc
The handle was made of brass.
Plural: bookshelves. "Bookshelf": single shelf or unit. "Bookcase": full piece of furniture with multiple shelves.
a shelf for books
The bookshelf was sagging under the weight.
Often "Billy" bookcase: IKEA's iconic model, in production since 1979.
a piece of furniture with shelves for books
They bought a new bookcase.
"B" at end silent. "Da bomb" (slang) = excellent. "Bomb" (verb) = fail spectacularly (UK: succeed greatly, opposite). Cherry bomb, atomic bomb.
an explosive device
The bomb exploded at noon.
to attack with bombs
They bombed the city.
a simple bomb made from a bottle filled with a flammable liquid such as petrol and fitted with a rag serving as a wick
Rioters threw petrol bombs.
(of an aircraft or bird) to bomb (a target) while diving steeply
The aircraft dive-bombed the ship.
an explosive device sent by mail
He received a parcel bomb.
"Make a bold statement". Typography: "bold", heavy text weight. "Bold and the Beautiful": long-running US soap opera.
brave or daring
It was a bold decision.
From "em-" (cause to be) + "bolden" (make bold). In typography, to embolden text = to make it bold.
to give courage or confidence to
His success emboldened her to try.
"Bald" here is from older English "piebald" (white-spotted): not actually bald. National symbol of the US since 1782. Removed from endangered list in 2007.
a large North American eagle with a white head
A bald eagle flew over the lake.
Past: bled. "Bleed someone dry" = take all someone's money. "Bleeding heart": overly sentimental person. "Bleed out": die from blood loss.
to lose blood
His nose was bleeding.
Past tense unchanged: bet. "You bet!": definitely. "I bet" = I'm pretty sure. Modern slang: "bet" alone = agreement ("Wanna go? Bet.").
to risk money on the outcome of an event
He bet $50 on the horse.
Different from "beside" (= next to). "Besides" = in addition to. Often confused.
in addition to
Besides English, she speaks French.
Many: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry. Tomatoes and bananas are technically berries; strawberries and raspberries aren't (botanically).
a small juicy fruit
She picked berries from the bush.
More formal than "under". "Beneath one" = below one's dignity. "Beneath contempt": very contemptible.
under; lower than
The treasure was buried beneath the tree.
Largest order of insects (~400,000 species). "Volkswagen Beetle": iconic car. "The Beatles": band name was wordplay on "beetles".
an insect with hard wing cases
A beetle crawled across the log.
"Rosary beads": Catholic prayer aid. "Mardi Gras beads": thrown from parade floats. "Drawing a bead" = aiming carefully.
a small ball with a hole for threading
She wore a necklace of glass beads.
a design or trim made of beads
The dress had elaborate beading.
Often "beady eyes": implies small, watchful, slightly menacing eyes.
(of eyes) small and bright
The bird stared with beady eyes.
Bay Area = San Francisco region. "Hudson Bay": large Canadian body of water. "Bay leaf": culinary herb (from bay laurel tree).
a curved part of a coast
The harbor was in a sheltered bay.
Iconic American symbol: red wood with white trim. "Barn raising": community-built barn (Amish tradition). "Barn dance": folk dance.
a large farm building
The horses were kept in the barn.
Antonym: inaudible. From Latin "audire" (to hear). "Audible gasp": audible reaction.
loud enough to be heard
His voice was barely audible.
"Barely" + verb implies near-failure: "barely made it", "barely survived". Stronger than "just".
only just; almost not
She barely passed the exam.
Homophone of "bear". "Bare minimum" = least possible. "Bare bones" = essentials only. "With bare hands" = without weapons or tools.
not covered or clothed
He walked on bare feet.
"Take the bait" = fall for a trick. "Clickbait": internet content designed to attract clicks. "Master Baiter": common joke.
food used to attract animals to be caught
He put worms on the hook as bait.
"Awkward silence": uncomfortable pause. Internet slang: "that's awkward", common reaction. "Awkward age": adolescence.
causing difficulty or embarrassment
It was an awkward situation.
"Self-aware": psychological term. "Become aware" = realize. "Aware of": common construction.
having knowledge of something
Are you aware of the rules?
knowledge or perception of a situation or fact
The campaign raised awareness of the disease.
In NYC: avenues run north-south, streets east-west. "Fifth Avenue": famous upscale shopping street. Figurative: "explore every avenue" = try every possibility.
a broad city street
They walked down the tree-lined avenue.
From Greek "auto" (self) + Latin "mobilis" (moving). Formal: most speakers say "car" or "auto". Industry: "automotive" (adjective).
a road vehicle, typically four-wheeled
The automobile industry employs millions.
From Latin "attrahere" (draw toward). Physics: opposite poles attract. "Attract attention".
to cause to come closer or like
Honey attracts bees.
Often about appearance, but can describe options, deals, ideas. Antonym: unattractive.
pleasing or appealing
It's an attractive offer.
"Tourist attraction": popular destination. "Law of attraction": pseudoscientific self-help concept ("The Secret"). "Mutual attraction": romantic phrasing.
a quality or feature that evokes interest or liking
The museum is a major tourist attraction.
Often hyphenated when before a noun: "last-minute change". "At the last minute": adverbial phrase.
happening at the latest possible moment
It was a last-minute decision.
Legal: "Court of Appeal". Marketing: "appeal" = attractiveness. "Mass appeal": broadly attractive.
a serious request; a legal review request
They lost the appeal.
to make a serious request; to be attractive
This idea appeals to me.
From verb "appeal". Common in marketing: "appealing design". Also literal: "appealing for help".
attractive or interesting
That sounds appealing.
"Owe an apology". "Public apology": common after celebrity scandal. "Non-apology": apology that doesn't accept fault.
a statement of regret for an offense
He offered her an apology.
regretfully acknowledging or excusing an offense or failure
She was very apologetic about the whole incident.
a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial
An apologist for the regime.
British spelling: apologise.
to say sorry for a fault or offense
He apologized for being late.
Synonym: anyway. Both informal connectives meaning "in any case". Slightly more dated than "anyway".
in any case
Anyhow, let's move on.
More common than "anyhow". Often used to redirect conversation: "Anyway, where were we?". Note: "anyways" (with -s) is informal/colloquial.
in any case; nevertheless
It was raining, but they went anyway.
to make a public statement about a fact or intention
They announced the winner at the ceremony.
"Public service announcement" (PSA): informational message. "Pregnancy announcement", "engagement announcement": life-event news.
a public statement of news
They made the announcement on TV.
"Sports announcer", "PA announcer", "radio announcer". Different from "newscaster" (TV news specifically) and "DJ" (music selector).
a person who announces on radio or TV
The announcer introduced the next song.
From Old English "amasian" (bewilder). "Amaze" stronger than "surprise".
to surprise greatly
His talent amazed everyone.
great surprise
She watched in amazement.
"Amazing": wildly overused as general approval. "Amazing Grace": famous Christian hymn. Stronger uses: "absolutely amazing".
causing great surprise; excellent
The view was amazing.
From Greek "lexis" (word). "Lexical analysis": programming/linguistics. "Lexical gap": concept with no single word in a language.
relating to the words of a language
"Bling" is a recent lexical addition.
Famous lexicographers: Samuel Johnson (English, 1755), Noah Webster (American), James Murray (OED).
the practice of compiling dictionaries
He spent his life in lexicography.
Named after Greek first letters: alpha + beta. English alphabet: 26 letters. "Alphabet soup": confusing mix of acronyms. "Alphabet": Google's parent company.
the letters of a language in order
Children learn the alphabet in school.
arranged in the order of the alphabet
List the names in alphabetical order.
"Afterward" (no -s) also valid, esp. American. UK preference: "afterwards".
at a later time
We had drinks afterwards.
"Advise" (verb, /-z/) vs. "advice" (noun, /-s/): different sound and spelling. Common mistake.
to recommend or suggest
He advised me to wait.
Also spelled "advisor" (esp. American). "Financial adviser", "academic adviser".
a person who gives advice
She's my legal adviser.
"Advisory committee": recommends but doesn't decide. "Travel advisory", "weather advisory": official warnings.
giving advice or a warning
There's a hurricane advisory in effect.
Always uncountable. "A piece of advice": for counting. "Advice" /-s/ noun; "advise" /-z/ verb.
a suggestion about what someone should do
He gave me good advice.
Famous: "Dear Abby", "Ask Polly". Traditional newspaper feature where readers send problems to a columnist.
a newspaper column where readers' problems are answered
She writes an advice column.
a person who writes an advice column
She's a famous advice columnist.
Often a free helpline. "Drug advice line", "crisis advice line".
a telephone service offering advice
She called the advice line for help.
to be recommended; sensible
It is advisable to book in advance.
"Adventure game": video game genre. "Choose Your Own Adventure": interactive book series. Indiana Jones, James Bond: adventure heroes.
an exciting or unusual experience
They had an adventure in the jungle.
a person who enjoys exciting activities
He was a famous Arctic adventurer.
"Study abroad": popular university option. "From abroad" = from a foreign country.
in or to a foreign country
They lived abroad for years.
Also spelled "swop" (less common). "Swap meet": flea market. Computing: "swap space", virtual memory.
to exchange
They swapped phone numbers.
"Beauty and the Beast": classic fairy tale. "Mark of the Beast": biblical reference. Modern slang: "a beast" = an impressive performer/athlete.
an animal, especially a large or wild one
They tracked the beast through the forest.
British, somewhat dated. "Beastly weather": common British complaint.
very unpleasant
He was beastly to his sister.
"Hot cross bun": Easter tradition. "Hair bun": ballerina style. "Bun" (slang) = buttock ("buns"). "Top knot" / "man bun": hairstyle trends.
a small round bread; a hairstyle
She bit into the cinnamon bun.
"Pinprick of light": small distant light. Often figurative for minor problems or sensations.
a small wound or sensation from a pin
She felt a pinprick on her finger.
"Flick a switch": quick on/off. "Flick through" = browse quickly. "Flick" (noun, informal) = a movie ("chick flick").
to make a quick light movement
He flicked the switch.
Informal, e.g. "chick flick", "horror flick".
(informal) a movie
We watched an old horror flick.
"Rummage sale": US fundraiser selling donated items. Implies disorganized hunting through stuff.
to search through things in a disorganized way
She rummaged through her purse for keys.
"Comfort food": emotional food (mac and cheese). "Creature comforts" = small luxuries. "Cold comfort" = something only slightly consoling.
a state of physical ease
He found comfort in her arms.
making one feel less worried
Her words were comforting.
comfortable (informal)
A comfy chair.
providing physical ease and relaxation; free from pain or stress
This is the most comfortable chair in the house.
(uncountable) slight pain or physical unease
The medicine eased the discomfort in his stomach.
(uncountable) anxiety, awkwardness, or embarrassment
His personal questions caused her obvious discomfort.
From "bone-fire" (old practice of burning bones). "Bonfire of the Vanities": 1497 Florence event; also Tom Wolfe novel.
a large outdoor fire
They roasted marshmallows over the bonfire.
November 5. Commemorates Guy Fawkes's failed 1605 plot to blow up Parliament. "Remember, remember, the fifth of November": traditional rhyme.
(UK) November 5, with fireworks and bonfires
They celebrated Bonfire Night with fireworks.
"Broadcast" + "news". Twice-daily ritual of major US networks (evening news). Increasingly displaced by streaming/social media.
a news broadcast
He watched the evening newscast.
Synonyms: news anchor, presenter. Famous: Walter Cronkite ("most trusted man in America"), Brian Williams, Anderson Cooper.
a person who reads the news on TV or radio
The newscaster reported the story.
Plural: passers-by (the -s on the noun, not the preposition, like sons-in-law).
a person who walks past something
A passer-by called the police.
"Stare down" = intimidate by staring. "Don't stare": common rebuke for rudeness. Longer/more intense than "look".
to look fixedly with eyes wide open
She stared at the painting for hours.
"En-" prefix = make. "Enrage" = make rage. Often passive: "enraged by the comment".
to make very angry
His comments enraged the audience.
American football: team huddles to plan next play. "Huddle for warmth": penguins do this. Verb and noun ("team huddle").
to gather closely together
They huddled around the fire.
a close-packed group, especially of people gathered to plan or confer
The team gathered in a huddle before the play.
"Trick or treat": Halloween phrase. "Trick of the trade": professional skill. "Hat trick": three of something (especially sports).
a clever act or deception
He showed us a magic trick.
Two senses: difficult to handle (most common modern use) or sly/deceitful (older sense, as in "Tricky Dick" nickname for Nixon).
requiring care and skill because difficult
It's a tricky situation to handle.
In folklore, the "trickster" is a major archetype: clever, mischievous, rule-breaking (Loki, Anansi, Coyote, Hermes). Joseph Campbell wrote about this figure.
a person who deceives or cheats others
He was a trickster who fooled many investors.
From Arabic "attabi" (a striped silk). Tabby is the most common cat coat pattern: "M" mark often visible on forehead.
a cat with a striped coat
Their tabby cat curled up by the fire.
Coined by Lewis Carroll in "Jabberwocky" (1872): blend of "chuckle" and "snort". A rare modern survival of a Carrollian neologism.
to chuckle with pleasure
He chortled at the joke.
Informal, slightly affectionate. "Little tyke": common phrase for mischievous child.
a small child
The little tyke wouldn't sit still.
"Peck on the cheek" = brief light kiss. "Hunt and peck": typing slowly with one finger.
to strike with the beak; to give a light kiss
The chicken pecked at the seeds.
Both noun and adjective. "You good-for-nothing!": common insult. Pejorative: implies idle or worthless.
of no use or value
He called his lazy son a good-for-nothing.
Two senses: bird and machine. The machine is named after the bird's long neck. "Crane your neck": verb form for straining to see.
a tall bird with long legs
A crane stood in the marsh.
a machine for lifting heavy objects
The crane lifted the steel beam.
to stretch out one's neck to see something
She craned her neck to see over the crowd.
In US, "yam" often refers to sweet potato (though botanically different). True yams are a different species, common in African and Asian cuisines.
a starchy tuberous vegetable
She baked the yams for dinner.
Comparative of "bad". Superlative: "worst". "To make matters worse": common phrase. "For better or worse": wedding vows.
of poorer quality or in a more serious condition
The weather is worse than yesterday.
Originally literal: insect that bores into books. Now affectionate term for avid reader. Compare: "nerd", "geek".
a person who loves reading
He was a real bookworm as a child.
Common in schools. "Math workbook". Also: digital workbook (e.g., spreadsheet file in Excel).
a book with exercises for students
She did her math workbook.
"Out of the woods" = past the danger. "Touch wood" / "knock on wood" = superstitious gesture for luck. "Can't see the forest for the trees".
the hard material from trees
The chair is made of wood.
made of wood; (figurative) stiff or awkward
The old wooden chair creaked.
"Take someone under one's wing" = mentor. "Wing it" = improvise. "Wing", political: "left wing", "right wing". "Chicken wings": popular food.
a part of a bird, plane, or building
The bird spread its wings.
"Chinese whispers" (UK) = US "telephone": game where message gets distorted. "Sweet nothings": whispered endearments.
to speak very softly
She whispered in his ear.
"Wherever you go, there you are": Zen-inflected motto. "Wherever" (dismissive): same vibe as "whatever".
in or to whatever place
He follows her wherever she goes.
"Whenever": flexible time word. "Whenever you're ready": common polite phrase.
at whatever time
Call me whenever you need help.
Modern dismissive use: "Whatever." = I don't care. Became a meme/cultural marker from Clueless (1995). Multiple grammatical functions.
anything that; no matter what
Do whatever you want.
Famous: Silicon Valley (tech), Death Valley (US national park), Valley of the Kings (Egypt). "Valley girl": Southern California stereotype.
a low area between hills or mountains
They drove through the valley.
Two pronunciations: /juːzd/ (= second-hand, has been used) and /juːst/ (= accustomed, as in "used to" or "I'm used to it"). Tricky for learners.
previously owned by someone else
They bought a used car.
Pronounced /juːst/, not /juːzd/.
familiar with something because of repeated experience of it
I'm used to the noise by now.
"Trial and error" - learning by attempts and failures. "On trial" - being judged. "Free trial" - software/subscription term.
a formal examination in court; a test
His trial begins next week.
Also written pretrial, especially in American legal writing.
happening before a court trial begins
The lawyers met for a pre-trial hearing.
a second trial of a court case
The judge ordered a retrial.
"Mousetrap": classic device. "Tourist trap": overpriced attraction. "Honey trap": sexual entrapment. "Trap" (music): hip-hop subgenre.
a device for catching animals
He set a trap for the rats.
to catch in a trap
The hunter trapped the fox.
a trap for catching mice
He set a mousetrap.
"Splitting toothache": common collocation. Often a cavity or infection requiring dental care.
a pain in a tooth
She had a terrible toothache.
American spelling. Same word as the verb "tire" (become weary): different etymology. "Tire iron": tool for changing tires.
(US) a rubber covering around a wheel
The car had a flat tire.
British spelling. Same as American "tire". Pirelli, Michelin, Bridgestone: major manufacturers.
(UK) a rubber covering around a wheel
He changed the punctured tyre.
Same spelling as the unrelated noun tire/tyre (rubber wheel) - different etymology.
to become weary or lose energy
She tires easily after a long day.
to make someone weary
The long lecture tired the students.
feeling in need of sleep or rest; weary
He was too tired to keep his eyes open.
(informal) fed up with something
I'm tired of his excuses.
causing one to feel bored or annoyed
His constant complaints are tiresome.
Often paired with positive nouns: "tireless advocate", "tireless worker", "tireless campaigner". Implies admirable dedication.
continuing for a long time without getting tired
She was a tireless campaigner for women's rights.
"Charcoal": wood reduced to carbon. "Char": also UK informal for tea. Programming: "char" = single character data type.
to burn the surface of
The steak was charred on the grill.
"I'm a Little Teapot": children's song with motions. "Storm in a teapot" (UK: teacup) = small drama. Yixing clay teapots: prized Chinese pottery.
a container for serving tea
She poured tea from the teapot.
"Death and taxes", Ben Franklin: "Nothing is certain except death and taxes." "Tax break" = reduction. "Tax evasion" = illegal; "tax avoidance" = legal.
money paid to the government
They paid their taxes on time.
Most major tax revenue source. US has federal + state income taxes. UK: "PAYE" (Pay As You Earn) system.
tax on personal income
He earned too little to pay income tax.
Common in EU and many countries (e.g., UK VAT 20%). US uses state sales tax instead. Charged at each step of production.
a tax added at each stage of production
Most European countries charge value-added tax.
a person who pays taxes
It will cost the taxpayer millions.
before taxes have been deducted
Pretax profits.
"Fairy tale". "Tall tale": exaggerated story. "A Tale of Two Cities": Dickens novel. Homophone of "tail".
a story or account
She told them a fascinating tale.
"Castor oil": old-fashioned laxative (from castor plant). "Castor": also small wheel under furniture. Often interchangeable with "caster".
a small wheel on furniture; a substance from the castor plant
The chair had castors so it could roll.
"Caster sugar": fine sugar (UK). Variant spelling of "castor": usage varies by country and context.
alternative spelling of castor; also fine sugar
She used caster sugar in the recipe.
"Weather the storm" = endure difficulty. "Calm before the storm": peaceful period before trouble. "Storm in a teacup" = much ado about nothing.
a violent atmospheric disturbance
A storm rolled in from the sea.
a storm with heavy snow and strong wind
The snowstorm closed every school in the county.
a storm with very strong winds but little rain
The windstorm knocked down power lines across the region.
having strong winds and heavy rain
It was a dark and stormy night.
Often used figuratively for relationships ("stormy marriage") or emotions ("stormy temperament"). "Weather the storm" = endure difficulty.
full of strong feelings or arguments
They had a stormy relationship.
Past: stuck. "Stick around" = stay. "Stick to" = adhere to. "Stick up for" = defend. "Get the stick": be criticized.
to attach with adhesive; to pierce with a point
He stuck a note on the fridge.
a thin piece of wood
The dog fetched the stick.
a standard used for comparison
League tables are not the only yardstick of a school's performance.
Figurative: "sticky situation" = awkward predicament. "Sticky fingers" = inclined to steal. "Sticky note" / "sticky" = Post-it brand has genericized.
tending to stick to things
The kids' hands were sticky with candy.
"Stamp collecting" (philately): once popular hobby. "Rubber stamp": figurative for routine approval.
a small printed sticker for postage
She put a stamp on the envelope.
to press down with the foot
He stamped his foot in anger.
a device for stamping a date or message on a document; a person or organization that gives automatic approval or authorization to the decisions of others, without proper consideration
The parliament was just a rubber stamp for the president.
"Stage fright": performance anxiety. "Set the stage for" = prepare. "All the world's a stage": Shakespeare (As You Like It).
a raised platform for performances; a step in a process
She walked onto the stage.
"Snowy owl": white Arctic owl (Hedwig in Harry Potter). "Snowy" (Tintin's dog). "Snowy peaks": common scenic phrase.
covered with snow
It was a snowy morning.
the ability to do something well, usually from training or practice
Cooking is a skill anyone can learn.
"Skilled labor": economic term distinguishing trained workers. Antonym: unskilled. Compare "skillful" (using skill in particular act).
having or requiring expertise
He's a skilled carpenter.
Past tense unchanged: shut. "Shut up!": rude command for silence. "Shut down" = close (business) or quiet down completely.
to close
Please shut the door.
More British than American. Napoleon allegedly called England "a nation of shopkeepers": though origin disputed.
a person who owns or runs a shop
The shopkeeper greeted them warmly.
Plural: shelves. "On the shelf": unused or postponed. "Shelf life": how long product stays usable.
a flat board for storing things
He placed the book on the shelf.
Note the voiced /v/, like half->halve. Two senses below.
to place on a shelf; to postpone or abandon (a plan)
The project was shelved due to lack of funds.
Legal: "order of restitution". Often distinguished from "compensation" (broader) and "damages" (court-awarded).
the act of restoring something or compensating for loss
The court ordered restitution.
"Civil servant": government employee. "Public servant": politician/civil servant. Traditional domestic servants now rare in West.
a person employed to do domestic work
The mansion employed many servants.
Fifth Amendment (US): right against self-incrimination. "Plead the Fifth": invoke this right.
to make someone appear guilty
The evidence incriminated him.
Children's playground equipment. Onomatopoeic: "see, saw" of motion. Figurative: "seesaw", back-and-forth movement.
a long plank balanced on a central support
The kids played on the seesaw.
"C-section": Caesarean delivery. "Cross-section": representative sample. Common in books, newspapers, music.
a part of something larger
This is the sports section of the paper.
From Italian: originally meant a scene outline for actors. Now used in business strategy, role-playing, computer simulations.
a possible sequence of events
Imagine a worst-case scenario.
Named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1762) who allegedly invented it to eat with one hand while gambling. "Sandwich generation": adults caring for both kids and aging parents.
two slices of bread with filling between
She made a peanut butter sandwich.
"Sand": main beach material. "Sandbox", children's play area; also tech: isolated test environment. "Quicksand": wet sand that traps.
loose granular particles of rock
The kids played in the sand.
Power tool: belt sander, orbital sander, palm sander. Used to smooth wood by friction.
a power tool for smoothing wood
He used a sander on the floorboards.
(UK) a sandbox
The children are playing in the sandpit.
a shallow box or hollow in the ground partly filled with sand for children to play in
The kids are in the sandbox.
UK "rubber" = US "eraser". US informal "rubber" = condom. "Rubber duck": bath toy. "Where the rubber meets the road": point of action.
a flexible elastic material
The tires are made of rubber.
American term, UK preference: "cock" (which has vulgar slang sense in US). Rooster Teeth: internet entertainment company.
an adult male chicken
The rooster crowed at dawn.
Antonyms: poor (wealth), bland (food). "Filthy rich" = extremely wealthy. "Get rich quick" = often a scam. "Rich in vitamin C": abundant.
having a lot of money
He came from a rich family.
having a lot of flavor or substance
This soup is rich and creamy.
"Movie review", "book review". "Performance review": workplace assessment. "Five-star review": top rating.
a critical assessment
The book got great reviews.
"Return of the Jedi". "Point of no return" = past the point you can go back. "Return on investment" (ROI): business term.
to come or go back
He returned home late.
the act of coming back
They celebrated his return.
"Hold responsible" = blame. "Be responsible for" = be in charge of. "With great power comes great responsibility": Spider-Man's uncle.
having a duty to deal with something
She's responsible for the budget.
'Take responsibility for' = accept blame or duty for.
the state of being accountable for something
She took full responsibility for the mistake.
a duty or task that one is required to do
Feeding the dog is your responsibility.
"Can't relate", modern slang: don't share that experience. "Relate to" + person/thing = empathize with or be connected.
to make a connection between things
It's hard to relate to her problems.
"Public relations" (PR): managing public image. "In relation to": concerning.
a connection between things or people
He has no relations in this city.
"In a relationship": Facebook relationship status. "Toxic relationship": common modern phrase. "Open relationship": non-monogamous.
the way two people or things are connected
They have a close relationship.