📖 G — The English dictionary · page 7

generalisation — Everyday, meaning 1: A generalisation is a statement about all or most things of a kind, based on some examples.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A sweeping generalisation is one that is too broad and unfair, like «all boys hate reading».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (maths) A generalisation is a rule that works for all cases, like «the sum of two even numbers is always even».↗ Example: It is a generalisation to say that all cats hate water.↗ · From the pattern we made a generalisation: odd plus odd is even.↗ · Be careful with generalisations about people.↗ · Scientists test a generalisation with more experiments.↗ · «Everyone loves pizza» is a generalisation.↗

generally — Everyday, meaning 1: Generally means usually, in most cases.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Generally means by most people, widely.↗ e.g. "It is generally believed."↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Generally means in a broad way, without details.↗ e.g. "generally speaking".↗ Example: I generally walk to school.↗ · Cats are generally afraid of water.↗ · It is generally agreed that exercise is good for you.↗ · Generally speaking, summers here are dry.↗ · The weather was generally sunny with a few showers.↗ · Metals generally conduct electricity well.↗ · But generally he sucks the blood of sleepers.↗ · Bible dictionaries generally give the word as Cherubim, but in Hebrew the initial letter is always K and not Ch.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · This last paragraph is generally considered to be less ancient than the remainder of the treatise, and by another author.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · The most generally accepted modern opinion is that the author was Rabbi Akiba, who lived in the time of the Emperor Hadrian, a.d.↗ 120.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

generalship — Everyday, meaning 1: The skill of a general in leading an army and planning battles.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Clever leadership and planning of any big task.↗ Example: Wellington's generalship won the Battle of Waterloo.↗ · Napoleon was famous for his generalship.↗ · Rat showed fine generalship in planning the attack on Toad Hall.↗ · Good generalship means caring for your soldiers and planning well.↗ · Her generalship of the school fair made it a great success.↗ · The battle was lost through poor generalship.↗

generate — Everyday, meaning 1: To generate something is to produce or make it, like electricity, heat or power.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To generate means to cause something or bring it about: generate interest, generate ideas.↗ Example: Wind turbines generate electricity.↗ · The fire generated a lot of heat.↗ · Use the rule to generate the first five numbers.↗ · The school fair generated £500 for charity.↗ · Let's generate some ideas for our story.↗ · The computer generated a random number.↗ · Rubbing your hands together generates heat.↗

generation — Everyday, meaning 1: A generation is all the people born and living at about the same time, like children, parents or grandparents.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A generation is the time it takes children to grow up and have their own children, about 25–30 years.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Generation means making something, especially electricity: power generation.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A generation of a product is one version of it, like a new generation of phones.↗ Example: Three generations of my family live in our house.↗ · The recipe was passed down from generation to generation.↗ · My grandparents' generation didn't have mobile phones.↗ · Wind farms are used for electricity generation.↗ · The younger generation loves video games.↗ · A family tree shows four generations.↗ · The new generation of tablets is faster.↗ · Our generation must look after the planet.↗ · But the vow was broken, and for nine generations of men none of the Lambtons died in his bed.↗ · These are the generations of Noah.↗ (Torah GEN.6.9, JPS 1917)↗ · These are the generations of Shem.↗ (Torah GEN.11.10, JPS 1917)↗ · These are the generations of Jacob.↗ (Torah GEN.37.2, JPS 1917)↗ · May his years be as many generations!↗ (Writings PSA.61.7, JPS 1917)↗ · He that called the generations from the beginning.↗ (Prophets ISA.41.4, JPS 1917)↗ · Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations?↗ (Writings PSA.85.6, JPS 1917)↗

generator — Everyday, meaning 1: A generator is a machine that makes electricity.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A generator is anything that produces something («an idea generator», «a random number generator»).↗ Example: The hospital has a generator in case the power goes off.↗ · Wind turbines turn generators to make electricity.↗ · We used a generator to power the lights at the fete.↗ · A dynamo on a bike is a small generator.↗ · Never run a generator indoors; its fumes are deadly.↗ · The random number generator picked 17.↗

generosity — Everyday, meaning 1: Being happy to give money, time, help or things to others, more than is expected.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Being kind and fair in judging people: «generosity of spirit».↗ Example: Thank you for your generosity, said the charity leader.↗ · The widow's small gift showed great generosity.↗ · His generosity helped pay for the new playground.↗ · Sharing your sweets is an act of generosity.↗ · She is known for her generosity to strangers.↗ · Generosity makes both the giver and the receiver happy.↗ · The beginning of the poem he praised with great generosity: he even found the idea original and effective.↗

generous — Everyday, meaning 1: A generous person is kind and happy to give money, time, help or things to others.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Generous means larger than usual, such as a generous slice of cake.↗ Example: It was generous of you to share your sweets.↗ · Grandad is generous with his time.↗ · She gave a generous gift to the charity.↗ · He cut me a generous slice of pie.↗ · The teacher was generous with praise.↗ · Being generous makes others happy too.↗ · The shop gives a generous discount to pensioners.↗ · But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.↗

generously — Everyday, meaning 1: In a kind way that gives more money, time or help than expected.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In a large amount; plentifully: «generously sized», «spread generously».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In a fair and kind way when judging others.↗ Example: People gave generously to the food bank.↗ · Gran generously paid for our trip to the zoo.↗ · Spread the jam generously on the toast.↗ · She generously shared her sweets with everyone.↗ · The teacher marked my work generously.↗ · The portions were generously sized.↗ · Then they told him of the field mice, and how they had generously saved him from death; and the Cowardly Lion laughed, and said:↗

genesis — Everyday, meaning 1: (Bible) Genesis is the first book of the Bible, which tells of the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Noah's ark, Abraham, and Joseph.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) The genesis of something is how it began or where it came from.↗ Example: In Genesis, God makes light on the first day.↗ · The story of Noah's ark is in the Book of Genesis.↗ · Joseph and his brothers appear near the end of Genesis.↗ · The genesis of the club was a chat in the playground.↗ · We drew pictures of the seven days from Genesis.↗ · Genesis begins with the words "In the beginning".↗ · ITzIRH, Yetzirah, forming, Genesis ii.↗ 7.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · BRIAH, Beriah, giving shape, Genesis i. i. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · Kings vi.↗ 23 and Exodus xxv.↗ 18, and indeed Genesis iii.↗ 24.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

genetic — Everyday, meaning 1: Genetic means to do with genes, the tiny instructions inside living cells that are passed from parents to children and decide things like eye colour.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A genetic illness or feature is one that is passed down in families through genes.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Genetic can describe science that studies or changes genes, as in «genetic engineering».↗ Example: Eye colour is partly genetic.↗ · DNA carries the genetic code.↗ · Some illnesses are genetic and run in families.↗ · Scientists are studying the genetic differences between wolves and dogs.↗ · The crops were genetically modified to resist pests.↗ · Identical twins share the same genetic information.↗ · Genetic tests can show where your ancestors came from.↗

genetics — Everyday, meaning 1: Genetics is the science of how features, like eye colour, are passed from parents to children through genes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Someone's genetics are the genes they were born with, which affect how they grow and look.↗ Example: Genetics is the study of how living things inherit features.↗ · Mendel discovered rules of genetics by growing peas.↗ · My red hair comes from genetics; both my grandads had it.↗ · Genetics helps doctors understand some illnesses.↗ · Farmers use genetics to breed cows that give more milk.↗ · Scientists who study genetics are called geneticists.↗ · Tall parents often have tall children because of genetics.↗

geneva — Everyday, meaning 1: (a name) Geneva is a city in Switzerland on Lake Geneva, where many world organisations such as parts of the United Nations and the Red Cross have their headquarters.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The Geneva Conventions: international rules about treating people fairly in war, such as prisoners, the wounded and civilians.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (a name) Geneva is also a girl's name and the name of towns in the USA.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Geneva can also mean the large lake beside the city of Geneva.↗ Example: Geneva is a city in Switzerland.↗ · The Red Cross was founded in Geneva.↗ · Lake Geneva is big and blue, with mountains around it.↗ · The Geneva Conventions say prisoners of war must be treated fairly.↗ · Many world leaders meet in Geneva for talks.↗ · People in Geneva mostly speak French.↗ · A steam-boat started from the town of Villeneuve, at one end of the lake of Geneva, and arrived at Bernex, a little town beyond Montreux, in about half an hour.↗

genial — Everyday, meaning 1: Genial means friendly, warm and kind in manner, cheerful and pleasant.↗ Example: The old farmer was genial and smiled at everyone.↗ · The sun gave genial warmth to the flowers.↗ · Her genial voice made us feel welcome.↗

genie — Everyday, meaning 1: In stories from Arabia and the Middle East, a magic spirit, often living in a lamp or bottle, who must obey whoever sets it free and may grant wishes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) «the genie is out of the bottle» means something has happened that cannot be undone.↗ Example: Aladdin rubbed the lamp and a genie appeared.↗ · The genie said, «Your wish is my command.»↗ · If you met a genie, what would you wish for?↗ · The Djinn gave the Camel a hump for saying «Humph!»↗ · The genie was trapped in the bottle for a thousand years.↗ · Once the secret was out, the genie couldn't be put back in the bottle.↗ · In the play, my friend dressed up as a genie.↗ · "Master, I obey," said the genie.↗

genital — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: having to do with the parts of the body used to make babies.↗ Example: The tongue is, as it were, the descriptive pen of all the spiritual issues, and the genital parts are the originators of the corporeal substances.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

genitals — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: the parts of the body used to make babies.↗ Example: There is also a spatial-anatomical parallelism between the terms employed by the SY: the tongue concealed above, the genitals concealed below.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗ · Both items refer to anatomical hiddenness: the word emerging from the tongue, hidden in the mouth, and circumcision of the genitals, the concealed lower organs revealed during circumcision.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗ · Another association between language, mouth, and genitals, though the connection (if any) with the SY is unclear, is found in the idiom עָרְלַת שְׂפָתַיִם ʽorlat sefatayim ‘uncircumcised of lips’, probably meaning one who is unskilled in speech, e.g. [Exodus 6:12].↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

genitive — Everyday, meaning 1: (grammar) The form of a noun or pronoun that shows who owns something or what it belongs to: in English, «the dog's bone», «Sam's coat», «the roof of the house».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In languages like Latin, German or Ukrainian, a special case ending used for owning and for «of».↗ Example: In «the cat's tail», «cat's» is in the genitive.↗ · Latin uses a genitive ending: «Marci» means «of Marcus».↗ · The genitive plural of «children» is «children's».↗ · In German, «des Mannes» is genitive: «of the man».↗ · The olympiad puzzle asked us to find the genitive ending.↗ · «Whose» is the genitive form of «who».↗

genius — Everyday, meaning 1: A genius is a person who is extremely clever or talented.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Genius is very great cleverness or skill.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal, slang) «Genius!» or «That's genius» means a clever idea.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: In Arabian stories, a genius is a magic spirit, another name for a genie.↗ Example: Einstein is often called a genius.↗ · Using a straw as a funnel — genius!↗ · She's a genius at maths.↗ · It was a stroke of genius to bring an umbrella.↗ · The evil genius in the film wanted to take over the world.↗ · Mozart was a musical genius.↗ · "Yes, I was," answered the genius.↗

genocide — Everyday, meaning 1: Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people because they belong to a particular nation, ethnic group, race or religion, with the aim of destroying that group.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (law) Genocide is an international crime; courts decide whether events count as genocide.↗ Example: The Holocaust was a genocide.↗ · Genocide is one of the worst crimes there is.↗ · We remember victims of genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.↗ · The UN agreed a law against genocide after the Second World War.↗ · Many countries recognise the Holodomor as a genocide.↗ · A genocide took place in Rwanda.↗ · Courts decide whether a crime is genocide.↗

gent — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal, old-fashioned) A gentleman; a polite or well-dressed man: a real gent.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «the Gents» (UK, Ireland, informal) = a public toilet for men.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: «gents'» = for men: gents' hairdresser.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: The gents can also mean the men as a group.↗ Example: Excuse me, where is the Gents?↗ · Grandpa is a real gent; he always opens the door for people.↗ · Ladies and gents, the show is about to begin!↗ · He went to the gents' barber for a haircut.↗ · What a gent — he carried my bags.↗ · The Gents is on the left, the Ladies on the right.↗