generator
noun
Simple meaning
Usually, a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
jehnerayterSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈdʒɛnɚeɪtɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Especially, a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
A piece of apparatus, equipment, etc, to convert or change energy from one form to another.
One who, or that which, generates, begets, causes, or produces.
Engine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Especially, a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Used this way, generator is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is an engineering use: it is a working term used for accuracy on the job.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Technical/specialist writing
- Science
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use generator
- “He was the generator of several complaints.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
Having the ability to produce or originate.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Electrical device that produces a high voltage by building up a charge of static electricity.
A generator of single or multiple voltage pulses.
A routine designed to yield a random number.
Electrical device that produces a high voltage by building up a charge of static electricity.
Generator that extracts usable energy from winds.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
- transformernoun
- voltagenoun
- reactornoun
- turbinenoun
- alternatornoun
- electricitynoun
- dynamonoun
- electricaladjective
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.