(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a high-ranking officer in the armed forces, usually in the army.
The General’s visit to Sarajevo is part of preparations for the deployment of extra troops.
N-COUNT; N-TITLE; N-VOC
2.
If you talk about the ~ situation somewhere or talk about something in ~ terms, you are describing the situation as a whole rather than considering its details or exceptions.
The figures represent a ~ decline in employment.
...the ~ deterioration of English society.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
If you describe something in ~ terms, you describe it without giving details.
She recounted in very ~ terms some of the events of recent months.
PHRASE
3.
You use ~ to describe several items or activities when there are too many of them or when they are not important enough to mention separately.
?2,500 for software is soon swallowed up in ~ costs...
His firm took over the planting and ~ maintenance of the park last March.
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
You use ~ to describe something that involves or affects most people, or most people in a particular group.
The project should raise ~ awareness about bullying.
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
If you describe something as ~, you mean that it is not restricted to any one thing or area.
...a ~ ache radiating from the back of the neck.
...a ~ sense of well-being.
...raising the level of ~ physical fitness.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
General is used to describe a person’s job, usually as part of their title, to indicate that they have complete responsibility for the administration of an organization or business. (BUSINESS)
He joined Sanders Roe, moving on later to become General Manager.
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
see also ~ly
8.
You use in ~ to indicate that you are talking about something as a whole, rather than about part of it.
I think we need to improve our educational system in ~...
She had a confused idea of life in ~.
PHRASE: n PHR
9.
You say in ~ to indicate that you are referring to most people or things in a particular group.
People in ~ will support us...
She enjoys a sterling reputation in law enforcement circles and among the community in ~.
PHRASE: n PHR
10.
You say in ~ to indicate that a statement is true in most cases.
In ~, it was the better-educated voters who voted Yes in the referendum.
= on the whole
PHRASE: PHR with cl