correlate
/'kɔrileit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To have a mutual relationship or connection where changes in one thing are associated with changes in another. It implies a statistical or logical connection, not necessarily causation.
- To establish or demonstrate such a relationship between two or more things.
Noun:
- Either one of two or more related or complementary variables, facts, or items. One of the things that has a correlation with another.
Adjective:
- Mutually related; having a mutual or reciprocal connection.
Usage and Examples
- Verb (intransitive):
- Researchers found that exercise levels and heart health strongly correlate.
- These two sets of data do not correlate, suggesting an error in measurement.
- Verb (transitive):
- The study aims to correlate economic growth with educational attainment.
- It is difficult to correlate the ancient text with known historical events.
- Noun:
- Smoking is a known correlate of lung disease.
- In this equation, 'X' and 'Y' are correlates.
- Adjective:
- The scientist studied the correlate phenomena of temperature and pressure. (This adjectival use is less common and often found in formal or technical writing.)
Advanced Usage
- Statistical Correlation: In statistics, to 'correlate' specifically means to measure the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables (e.g., correlate income and happiness).
- The analyst will correlate the sales figures with advertising spending.
- Correlate with: This is the standard prepositional phrase used with the verb.
- High stress levels often correlate with poor sleep quality.
Variants and Related Words
- Correlation (n): The process or result of correlating; a mutual relationship or connection.
- There is a strong positive correlation between study time and exam scores.
- Correlative (adj/n): Having a mutual relationship; a word or concept that has a mutual relationship with another (e.g., 'either' and 'or' are correlative conjunctions).
- Correlated (adj): Describing things that have been linked or shown to have a mutual relationship.
- The correlated variables were plotted on a graph.
Synonyms
- Associate (v): To connect in thought.
- Correspond (v): To have a close similarity, match, or agreement.
- Relate (v): To show or establish a connection between.
- Interrelate (v): To relate or connect to one another.
- Factor (n): (as a synonym for the noun 'correlate') An element contributing to a particular result.
Antonyms
- Contradict (v): To be in conflict with.
- Dissociate (v): To disconnect or separate.
- Unrelated (adj): Having no connection.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- Correlate directly/inversely: Phrases specifying the nature of the relationship. A direct correlation means both variables increase or decrease together. An inverse (or negative) correlation means one increases as the other decreases.
- Fuel efficiency correlates inversely with vehicle weight.
Adjective
- mutually related
Noun
- either of two or more related or complementary variables
Verb
- bring into a mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relation
- I cannot correlate these two pieces of information
- to bear a reciprocal or mutual relation
- Do these facts correlate?