Collocations for relation - noun

causal
direct
The energy an animal uses is in direct relation to speed and body mass.

complex
the complex relation between business and society

close, intimate
The study shows the close relation between poverty and ill health.

significant
spatial
The right side of the brain deals with spatial relations between objects.

bear, have
The movie bore no relation to (= was very different from) the book.
The fee bears little relation to the service provided.

establish, show
He established a relation between asthma and certain types of work.

analyse/analyze, explore
Her work explores the relation between technology and culture.

in relation to
Similar policies were pursued in the 1970s, particularly in relation to health services.

relation between, relation to
the relation of the subject to the object

close, near
distant
blood
poor (often figurative)
Other sparkling wines are often considered the poor relations of champagne.

visit

relation to
What relation is Rita to you?

friends and relations

close, intimate
cordial, friendly, good, harmonious
improved
a period of improved trade relations

difficult, poor, strained
Relations between the two countries are strained.

bilateral, diplomatic, foreign, international, political, trade
The US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba's communist government.
the growing chill in Anglo-French diplomatic relations

industrial, labour/labor
The change of government led to improved industrial relations.

class, gender, race
economic, power, social
public
a public relations exercise

customer, investor
human, interpersonal, personal
family, marital
a breakdown of marital relations leading to divorce

sexual
parent-child, student-teacher, etc.
Anglo-American, East-West, etc.

cultivate, develop, establish, foster, maintain
the need to establish good relations with our European partners

break off, sever, suspend
Diplomatic relations have been broken off between the two countries.

damage, poison, sour
The move soured relations between Washington and Moscow.

improve, strengthen
Renewed efforts are being made to improve the strained relations between the two countries.

normalize (esp. AmE), repair
re-establish, restore, resume
Venezuela re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba.

govern, regulate
the system governing social relations in India

improve
Relations between the two states have improved.

deteriorate, sour, worsen

relation among, relation between, relation with

an improvement in relations