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

These employees play Pymetrics’s games to generate training data.

From MIT Technology Review

Bureaucratic roadblocks kept it from ever starting the study, let alone generating new policy ideas from what it found.

From Voice of San Diego

When the pouch is taken out of its airtight seal and exposed to oxygen, the iron powder causes an exothermic reaction, generating heat.

From Popular-Science

Many brands try to increase the number of search ad impressions they receive as a method of generating demand and awareness for a brand and its services.

From Search Engine Watch

Then, when you enter an airplane or a concert or a restaurant, it generates a QR code for the business to scan.

From MIT Technology Review

For the Brogpas, transforming into a tourist attraction may offer their community a way to generate much-needed income.

From The Daily Beast

The money that drugs generate is their way to achieve the American Dream in a sort of twisted Scarface-type of fashion.

From The Daily Beast

The whole purpose of the gang is to generate money for its incarcerated leaders.

From The Daily Beast

But trying to generate buzz for her single through appropriating Nazi propaganda imagery is not one of them.

From The Daily Beast

“I knew it was going to get at least 250,000 views and that that would generate me $18 of ad income [on YouTube],” says Conte.

From The Daily Beast

The keynote is the oath which, in all ages and in all languages, passion seems to generate with but very little assistance.

From Project Gutenberg

Haste had driven the blood to her face, and the cool spring air seemed to generate in her the heat of summer.

From Project Gutenberg

There are many things which generate belief besides evidence.

From Project Gutenberg

Just what kind of turns with what around what did you make to generate a psi force?

From Project Gutenberg

A spirit possessed of any conscious individuality whatever must generate a certain interior force to maintain it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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