<p>I have thought about this. In the beginning of any relationship, you usually have 1. flirting 2. courtship 3. relationship.</p>
<p>Where you do these things, in groups, across a crowded room, depends. Hooking up means you have physical contact while only in the flirt stage. You may never progress to courtship. Goin on a date means you have scheduled flirtation with an acknowledged progression path to courtship, which of course may or not may occur. Relationships, however, generally mean relationships, whether you call it "dating" or "going out".</p>