relic
REH-lihk
Relic (noun) means an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history. Example: “The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age.”
noun
1
An object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.
"The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age."
"That old typewriter is a relic of my grandfather's newspaper days."
2
A part of the body of a saint, or another sacred object kept and honoured for religious reasons.
"Pilgrims travelled for weeks to see the relic housed in the cathedral."
How to use relic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething old that has survived from the past, whether a museum piece or a religious object.
Common pairings
ancient relic
relic of the past
sacred relic
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Word forms
- Plural
- relics
- Third person singular
- relics
- Past tense
- reliced, relicked
Fill the gap
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The museum displays _____ from the Bronze Age.
Etymology
From Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae, "remains," from relinquere, "to leave behind" — the same root as relinquish.
Related words
Rhymes for relic
See all rhymes for relic →Frequently asked questions
What does “relic” mean?
The word “relic” means an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history. In plain terms, something old that has survived from the past, whether a museum piece or a religious object.
How do you pronounce “relic”?
“Relic” is pronounced REH-lihk (/ˈɹɛlɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “relic” in a sentence?
Here is “relic” used in a sentence: “The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age.”
What part of speech is “relic”?
“Relic” is a noun.
Where does the word “relic” come from?
The word “relic” comes from Latin. From Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae, "remains," from relinquere, "to leave behind" — the same root as relinquish.
Is “relic” a common word?
“Relic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “relic” have?
“Relic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.
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