575
Genesis
the countries which belong to the UNITED NATIONS. Its members meet regularly to discuss plans and vote on suggestions, with each country having one vote. → compare SECURITY COUNCIL 2 a group that meets to make laws in some of the states of the US 3 the main group that controls some Protestant churches, especially the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, consisting of church leaders who meet to make decisions → compare GENERAL SYNOD
General Bel·gra·no, the /ˌdʒenərəl belˈgrɑːnəʊ/ an Argentinian ship sunk by the British in 1982 during the FALKLANDS WAR → see also BELGRANO AFFAIR
general 'counsel n 1 the chief legal officer of a US company 2 a firm of US lawyers which gives general rather than specialist advice
general de'livery n [U] AmE for POSTE RESTANTE
general e'lection n an election in which all the voters in a country take part at the same time to choose the members of a government
General E'lectric trademark a US company that makes electrical and electronic equipment
General 'Hospital a US television SOAP OPERA, which began in the 1960s. It led to a spinoff series called Port Charles.
gen·er·al·is·si·mo /ˌdʒenərəˈlɪsɪməʊ/ n pl. -mos (in certain countries) a commander of the army, navy, and airforce, especially one who has political as well as military power
gen·er·al·i·ty /ˌdʒenəˈrælɪti/ n 1 [C often pl.] a general statement; point for consideration which is not detailed: We all know there's a lack of food in the world, but let's move on from generalities to the particular problems of feeding the people of this country. 2 [the+Plof)] fml the greater part; most 3 [U] fml the quality of being general
gen·er·al·i·za·tion also -isation BrE /ˌdʒenərəlaɪˈzeɪʃən||-lә-/ n 1 [U] the act of generalizing 2 [C] sometimes derog a general statement, principle, or opinion formed from (sometimes incomplete) consideration of particular facts: The report's conclusion is full of sweeping generalizations.
gen·er·al·ize also -ise BrE /'dʒenərəlaɪz/ v 1 [(about)] to make a general statement: Our history teacher is always generalizing; he never deals with anything in detail. 2 [(from)] to form a general principle, opinion etc, after considering only a small number of the facts: It is unfair to generalize from these two accidents and say that all young people are bad drivers. 3 [T] to put (a principle, statement, rule etc) into a more general form that covers a larger number of particular cases: to generalize a law
general 'knowledge n [U] knowledge of facts from a number of different subjects, e.g. the capitals of countries, political events or people, historical events, famous books, people in sports etc: a general knowledge quiz
gen·er·al·ly /'dʒenərəli/ adv 1 usually: We generally go to France for our holidays. 2 by most people: It is generally agreed that smoking is bad for you. 3 without considering particular cases or details, but only what is true in most cases: Generally speaking the more you pay for stereo equipment, the better the system.
General 'Medical ,Council, the → see GMC
General 'Mills trademark a US company which produces many different types of foods such as flour, cake mixes, and breakfast cereals. These are sold under the name of Nestlé in Europe.
General 'Motors trademark, abbrev. GM one of the world's largest car companies, which is based in the US and has factories in many countries. Its MAKES (=types) of cars and trucks include Chevrolet, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick, and in Europe, Opel and Vauxhall.
general 'practice n 1 [U] work in a profession, especially law or medicine, that is of different kinds and not limited to a special kind: He did five years of general practice before concentrating on criminal law. 2 [C] (the office of) a group of lawyers or doctors who do all kinds of work in their profession: She works in a general practice on 15th Street.
general prac'titioner n fml for GP
general 'public n [the S+sing./pl. v] → see PUBLIC (1)
general 'purpose adj that is suitable for most uses of the stated thing: general purpose tyres
,general 'staff n [(the) S+sing./pl. v) the group of army officers who work for a commanding officer
'general ,store n AmE a shop that sells a wide variety of goods, especially one in a small town
,general 'strike n the stopping of work by most of the workers in a country at the same time
CULTURAL NOTE In Britain the only general strike has been the one in 1926, when many people stopped work in support of the men who worked in the COALMINES. The strike had a great effect but was not successful in its political aims.
,General 'Synod, the the group of people who govern the Church of England. It includes BISHOPS and elected representatives from among the priests and other members of the Church.
gen·er·ate /'dʒenəreɪt/ v [T] 1 fml to cause (especially feelings or ideas) to exist; produce: The accident generated a lot of public interest in the nuclear power issue. | The personnel department seems to be generating a lot of paperwork these days. | to generate 15 million dollars' worth of business | This computer program will generate a list of random numbers. 2 tech to produce (heat or electricity): an electricity generating station
gen·er·a·tion /ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃən/ n 1 [C] a period of time in which a human being can grow up and have a family, about 25 or 30 years: Members of my family have lived in this house for generations. 2 [C+sing./pl. v] a) all the members of a family of about the same age: This valuable heirloom has been passed down from generation to generation. (=from parents to children) | This family photo shows three generations: myself, my parents, and my grandparents. b) all people of about the same age: The younger generation only seems/seem to be interested in pop music and clothes. | Most people of my father's generation have experienced war. 3 [C] all the members of a developing class of things at a certain stage: The latest generation of anti-tank missiles has several new refinements. 4 [U] the act or process of generating: the generation of electricity
gene'ration ,gap n [the] the difference in ideas, feelings, and interests between older and younger people, especially considered as causing lack of understanding: How can teachers help to bridge the generation gap between parents and their teenage children?
Generation X /ˌdʒenəreɪʃən 'eks/ n [U] the group of people who were born during the late 1960s and the 1970s in the US. These young people were seen as not having any strong beliefs, not being involved in their society, and making no plans for the future
gen·er·a·tive /'dʒenərətɪv/ adj having the power to produce or generate
gen·er·a·tor /'dʒenəreɪtər/ n a machine which generates something, especially electricity → compare DYNAMO, MAGNETO
ge·ner·ic /dʒɪˈnerɪk/ adj 1 tech of a GENUS: The Latin term 'Vulpes' is the generic name for the various types of fox. 2 shared by or typical of a whole class of things 3 especially AmE cheaper because of not having a TRADEMARK: a generic drug | generic canned goods —-ally /-kli/ adv
gen·er·os·i·ty /ˌdʒenəˈrɒsɪti||-ˈrɑː-/ n 1 [U] the quality of being generous 2 [C usually pl.] a generous act
gen·er·ous /'dʒenərəs/ adj 1 showing readiness to give money, help, kindness etc; unselfish: It was very generous of you to lend them your new car for their holiday. | She's not very generous with the food. (=she gives small amounts) | a generous and forgiving nature → compare MEAN¹ 2 larger, kinder etc than usual: a generous meal | generous gifts | Some farmers receive generous subsidies from the government. —ly adv: Please give generously to this charity.
gen·e·sis /'dʒensɪs/ n [(the)+S(of)] fml the beginning or origin: the genesis of the universe.
Genesis the first book of the OLD TESTAMENT of the BIBLE, which describes the history of the Earth and its people. It includes the CREATION of HEAVEN and the Earth, the story of ADAM and EVE, and the story of the FLOOD. Many people know the first words of Genesis: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.