general (ˈdʒɛnərəl
;ˈdʒɛnrəl)
Definitions
adjective
- common; widespread ⇒
a general feeling of horror at the crime
- of, including, applying to, or participated in by all or most of the members of a group, category, or community
- relating to various branches of an activity, profession, etc; not specialized ⇒
general office work
- including various or miscellaneous items ⇒
general knowledge
a general store
- not specific as to detail; overall ⇒
a general description of the merchandise
- not definite; vague ⇒
give me a general idea of when you will finish
- applicable or true in most cases; usual
- (prenominal or immediately postpositive) having superior or extended authority or rank ⇒
general manager
consul general
pass designating a degree awarded at some universities, studied at a lower academic standard than an honours degree See honours (sense 2)- medicine relating to or involving the entire body or many of its parts; systemic
- logic (of a statement) not specifying an individual subject but quantifying over a domain
noun
- an officer of a rank senior to lieutenant general, esp one who commands a large military formation
- any person acting as a leader and applying strategy or tactics
- a general condition or principle: opposed to a general condition or principle: opposed to particular
- a title for the head of a religious order, congregation, etc
- medicine short for general anaesthetic
- archaic the people; public
- See in general
Alternative Forms
ˈgeneralness nounWord Origin
C13: from Latin generālis of a particular kind, from genus kindSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
widespread,
accepted,
popular,
public,
common,
broad,
extensive,
universal,
prevailing,
prevalent,
accustomed,
=
vague,
broad,
loose,
blanket,
sweeping,
unclear,
inaccurate,
approximate,
woolly,
indefinite,
hazy,
imprecise,
ill-defined,
inexact,
unspecific,
undetailed
generic,
indiscriminate,
Translations
- British English:
general
If you talk about the general situation somewhere or talk about something in general terms, you are describing the situation as a whole rather than part of it.The figures represent a general decline in employment.ˈdʒɛnərəl; ˈdʒɛnrəl ADJECTIVE The figures represent a general decline in employment.
- Spanish:
general
adj
- French:
général
adj
- German:
allgemein
adj
- Chinese: 普通的 adj
- Arabic: عَامّ adj
- Portuguese: geral adj
- Russian: общий adj общая
- Croatian: opći adj opća
- Czech: všeobecný adj
- Danish: generel adj
- Dutch: algemeen adj
- Finnish: yleinen adj
- Greek: γενικός adj γενική
- Italian: generale adj
- Japanese: 一般の no_posp
- Korean: 일반적인 adj
- Norwegian: generelt adj
- Polish: ogólny adj ogólna
- Brazilian Portuguese: geral adj
- European Spanish:
general
adj
- Swedish: allmän adj allmänt
- Thai: โดยทั่วไป adj
- Turkish: genel adj
- Vietnamese: chung adj
- British English:
general
A general is a senior officer in the armed forces, usually in the army.The troops received a visit from the general.ˈdʒɛnərəl; ˈdʒɛnrəl NOUN The troops received a visit from the general.
- Spanish:
general
nm generala
- French:
général
nm
- German:
General
nm Generäle
- Chinese: 将军 n
- Arabic: لِوَاء n
- Portuguese: general nm
- Russian: генерал nm
- Croatian: general nm
- Czech: generál nm
- Danish: general nutr
- Dutch: generaal nm
- Finnish: kenraali n
- Greek: στρατηγός nm
- Italian: generale nm
- Japanese: 将軍 n
- Korean: 장군 n
- Norwegian: general nm
- Polish: generał nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: general nm
- European Spanish:
general
nm generala
- Swedish: general nutr
- Thai: นายพล n
- Turkish: genel n
- Vietnamese: tướng n
Usage examples
You know that he was operating beyond the limits of a general 's pay.
, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)Bi-Annual 2, 2001 Country Residential Review Flocks, stocks and'two ' general elections!
Country Life (2004)The Irish Nurses ' Organisation general secretary, Mr Liam Doran, said he expected the talks to be "fairly protracted".
Irish Times (2002)I am an executive minister and the work of the executive goes on during a general election.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Again, amid all the general horror, a couple of particular episodes made an enormous impression on her.
, NANCY WAKE (2002)