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generate

 - 4 dictionary results

gen⋅er⋅ate

[jen-uh-reyt] verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to bring into existence; cause to be; produce.
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.
a. to trace (a figure) by the motion of a point, straight line, or curve.
b. 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)
8. to reproduce; propagate.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L generātus produced, ptp. of generāre to beget; see genus


1. create, evolve, originate, engender, institute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To generate
gen·er·ate   (jěn'ə-rāt')   
tr.v.   gen·er·at·ed, gen·er·at·ing, gen·er·ates
    1. To bring into being; give rise to: generate a discussion.

    2. To produce as a result of a chemical or physical process: generate heat.

  1. To engender (offspring); procreate.

  2. Mathematics To form (a geometric figure) by describing a curve or surface.

  3. Computer Science To produce (a program) by instructing a computer to follow given parameters with a skeleton program.

  4. Linguistics To construct (a sentence, for example), as in generative grammar.


[Latin generāre, generāt-, to produce, from genus, gener-, birth; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: gen·er·ate
Pronunciation: 'jen-&-"rAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed; -at·ing
transitivesenses
: to bring into existence; especially : PROCREATE <generate innumerableoffspring> generate intransitive senses
: to produce offspring : PROPAGATE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

generate
To produce something according to an algorithm or program or set of rules, or as a (possibly unintended) side effect of the execution of an algorithm or program.
The opposite of parse.
[The Jargon File]
(1995-06-15)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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