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generational

 - 5 dictionary results

gen⋅er⋅a⋅tion

  [jen-uh-rey-shuhn]
Use generational in a Sentence
–noun
1. the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time: the postwar generation.
2. the term of years, roughly 30 among human beings, accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.
3. a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc. Compare Beat Generation, Lost Generation.
4. a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time: Chaplin belonged to the generation of silent-screen stars.
5. a single step in natural descent, as of human beings, animals, or plants.
6. a form, type, class, etc., of objects existing at the same time and having many similarities or developed from a common model or ancestor: a new generation of computers.
7. the offspring of a certain parent or couple, considered as a step in natural descent.
8. the act or process of generating; procreation.
9. the state of being generated.
10. production by natural or artificial processes; evolution, as of heat or sound.
11. Biology.
a. one complete life cycle.
b. one of the alternate phases that complete a life cycle having more than one phase: the gametophyte generation.
12. Mathematics. the production of a geometrical figure by the motion of another figure.
13. Physics. one of the successive sets of nuclei produced in a chain reaction.
14. (in duplicating processes, as photocopying, film, etc.) the distance in duplicating steps that a copy is from the original work.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME generacioun < MF < L generātiōn- (s. of generātiō). See generate, -ion

Related forms:
gen⋅er⋅a⋅tion⋅al, adjective
gen⋅er⋅a⋅tion⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To generational
gen·er·a·tion   (jěn'ə-rā'shən)   
n.  

  1. All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor: Mother and daughters represent two generations.

  2. Biology A form or stage in the life cycle of an organism: asexual generation of a fern.

  3. The average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.

    1. A group of individuals born and living about the same time.

    2. A group of generally contemporaneous individuals regarded as having common cultural or social characteristics and attitudes: "They're the television generation" (Roger Enrico).

    3. A stage or period of sequential technological development and innovation.

    4. A class of objects derived from a preceding class: a new generation of computers.

    1. A stage or period of sequential technological development and innovation.

    2. A class of objects derived from a preceding class: a new generation of computers.

  6. The formation of a line or geometric figure by the movement of a point or line.

  7. The act or process of generating; origination, production, or procreation.

gen'er·a'tion·al adj., gen'er·a'tion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: gen·er·a·tion
Pronunciation: "jen-&-'rA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 a : a body of living beings constituting asingle step in the line of descent from an ancestor b : a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously
2 : the average span of time between the birth ofparents and that of their offspring
3 : the action or process of producing offspring : PROCREATION —gen·er·a·tion·al /-shn&l, -sh&n-&l/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

generation gen·er·a·tion (jěn'ə-rā'shən)
n.

  1. A form or stage in the life cycle of an organism.

  2. All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor.

  3. The average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.

  4. A group of individuals born and living about the same time.

  5. A group of generally contemporaneous individuals regarded as having common cultural or social characteristics and attitudes.

  6. The act or process of generating; origination, production, or procreation.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
generation   (jěn'ə-rā'shən)  Pronunciation Key 

    1. All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor.

    2. The average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.

  2. A form or stage in the life cycle of an organism. See more at alternation of generations.

  3. The formation of a line or geometric figure by the movement of a point or line.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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