noun
Common
generator
JEH-nuh-ray-tuh
Generator (noun) means a machine that converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity. Example: “Campers used a small generator to charge their lamps at night.”
noun
1
A machine that converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity.
"Campers used a small generator to charge their lamps at night."
"They ran a portable generator during the power outage."
"The hospital's backup generator kicked in within seconds."
2
A person or thing that produces or causes something.
"Curiosity is the generator of most great scientific ideas."
"The new factory became a generator of income for the whole town."
"Tourism is a major generator of jobs in the region."
3
(computing) A piece of code or a tool that automatically produces output, such as random data or content, from given inputs.
"This random password generator creates a strong code each time you click."
"The game uses a map generator to build a new world every round."
"He used an online name generator to come up with usernames."
How to use generator
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA machine or tool that produces something — most often electricity.
Common pairings
backup generator
diesel generator
random generator
power generator
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Word forms
- Plural
- generators
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Campers used a small _____ to charge their lamps at night.
Etymology
From Latin generare ("to beget, produce") plus the agent suffix -or.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for generator
See all rhymes for generator →Frequently asked questions
What does “generator” mean?
The word “generator” means a machine that converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity. In plain terms, a machine or tool that produces something — most often electricity.
How do you pronounce “generator”?
“Generator” is pronounced JEH-nuh-ray-tuh (/ˈdʒɛnəɹeɪtə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “generator” in a sentence?
Here is “generator” used in a sentence: “They ran a portable generator during the power outage.”
What is the opposite of “generator”?
The opposite of “generator” — its antonyms — is extinguisher.
What part of speech is “generator”?
“Generator” is a noun.
Where does the word “generator” come from?
The word “generator” comes from Latin. From Latin generare ("to beget, produce") plus the agent suffix -or.
Is “generator” a common word?
“Generator” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “generator” have?
“Generator” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a machine that converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity.
What is the difference between a generator and an alternator?
A generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity. An alternator is a specific type of generator that produces alternating current, or AC. All alternators are generators, but not all generators are alternators.
What is the difference between a generator and a motor?
A generator converts mechanical energy into electricity, while a motor does the reverse, converting electrical energy into mechanical movement. In effect they are opposites, though both rely on the relationship between magnetism and electric current.
What is the difference between a generator and an engine?
An engine converts fuel into mechanical motion, whereas a generator converts mechanical energy or fuel into electricity. Many portable generators contain an engine that drives the electricity-producing part, so the two often work together.
What is a generator in computing?
In computing, a generator is a piece of code or a tool that automatically produces output, such as random data or content, from given inputs. Programmers use generators to create things like passwords, test data, or repeated content without doing it by hand.
Example sentences
Sentences with a source are quoted from published work. Any opinions in them are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
A random number generator picked the winning ticket.
The festival ran entirely on diesel generators.
Wind turbines drive a generator that turns movement into electricity.
The hospital switched to its backup generator when the power failed.
She is the main generator of ideas on the team.
A free QR code generator turns a link, a menu or Wi-Fi details into a code people can scan, with no watermark on the download.
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