/ ˈdʒenəreɪtə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
a machine for producing electricity :
The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut.
a wind generator (= a machine that uses the power of the wind to produce electricity)
2.
a machine for producing a particular substance :
The museum uses smells and smoke generators to create atmosphere.
( figurative )
The company is a major generator of jobs.
3.
( BrE ) a company that produces electricity to sell to the public :
the UK's major electricity generator
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: Latin , from generat- created, from the verb generare , from genus , gener- stock, race.