generate

[ jen-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, gen·er·at·ed, gen·er·at·ing.

1. to bring into existence; cause to be; produce.

   Synonyms: institute, engender, originate, evolve, create

2. to create by a vital or natural process.
3. to create and distribute vitally and profusely:

   He generates ideas that we all should consider.

   A good diplomat generates good will.

4. to reproduce; procreate.
5. to produce by a chemical process.
6. Mathematics.
   1. to trace (a figure) by the motion of a point, straight line, or curve.
   2. to act as base for all the elements of a given set:

      The number 2 generates the set 2, 4, 8, 16.

7. Linguistics. to produce or specify (a grammatical sentence or other construction or set of constructions) by the application of a rule or set of rules in a generative grammar.

verb (used without object)

, gen·er·at·ed, gen·er·at·ing.

1. to reproduce; propagate.

generate

/ ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to produce or bring into being; create
2. also intr to produce (electricity), esp in a power station
3. to produce (a substance) by a chemical process
4. maths linguistics to provide a precise criterion or specification for membership in (a set)

   these rules will generate all the noun phrases in English

5. geometry to trace or form by moving a point, line, or plane in a specific way

   circular motion of a line generates a cylinder

Other Words From

• inter·gener·ating adjective
• non·gener·ating adjective
• pre·gener·ate verb (used with object) pregenerated pregenerating
• un·gener·ated adjective
• un·gener·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of generate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin generātus “begotten, produced,” past participle of generāre “to beget”; genus

Word History and Origins

Origin of generate¹

C16: from Latin generāre to beget, from genus kind

Example Sentences

"As a computational biologist, it is exciting to be involved in generating and exploring such a unique dataset," Li said.

From Science Daily

Naik noted that this innovation has significant implications for industries that generate large amounts of waste heat such as nuclear power plants and manufacturing facilities.

From Science Daily

The fact that plastics pollute the environment and generate problems has been well-researched in many areas.

From Science Daily

When exposed to a toxin, mice lacking PDAP1 failed to generate the usual response to stress.

From Science Daily

Instead, they explored the production of gamma rays by axions in the strong magnetic fields around the very star that generated the axions.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• achieve
• bring about
• cause
• develop
• engender
• make
• provoke
• set up
• spawn