I. ˈjenəˌrāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin generatus, past participle of generare to beget, create, from gener-, genus birth, race, class, kind — more at kin
transitive verb
1. : to cause to be : bring into existence ; especially : procreate
generate innumerable offspring
2. : to originate (something material) by a physical or chemical process : produce
would generate a tremendous amount of electricity — Collier's Year Book
mountain ranges … should generate more heat than low-lying plains — A.E.Benfield
3. : to define (as a mathematical or linguistic set or structure) by the application of one or more rules or operations to given quantities
a mathematical group consisting of the powers of one element A is said to be generated by A
a set of phrase structure rewriting rules that generate underlying sentence structures — P.S.Rosenbaum
especially : to trace out (as a curve) by a moving point or (as a surface) by a moving curve — see cycloid illustration
4. : to form (gear teeth or screw threads) with theoretical accuracy
5. : to be the cause of (a state of mind, an action, or something immaterial or intangible)
forces generating interracial conflict
these stories … generate a good deal of psychological suspense — Atlantic
generates mistaken opinions, wrong attitudes — H.A.Overstreet
intransitive verb
1. : to produce offspring : propagate
2. : to come into existence : originate , arise
II. ˈjen(ə)rə̇t adjective
Etymology: Latin generatus
: generated