# generator

/ˈdʒɛnɝˌeɪtɝ/ (US) · /dʒˈɛnəɹˌeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/generator
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. electricity machine

noun · CEFR B1

a machine that turns fuel or movement into electricity.

For teachers: a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

- When the storm knocked out the power, the hospital used a backup generator.
- The construction site relied on a portable diesel generator to power the heavy machinery before the main electrical grid was connected.

Usage: Often used with modifiers like 'backup', 'portable', or 'emergency'.

### 2. software/computing

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a computer program or tool that creates data, text, or images.

For teachers: a routine or program that produces a sequence of results or specific data structures.

- I used an online password generator to create a secure login.
- The developer implemented a procedural terrain generator to create unique landscapes for every new game session.

Usage: Commonly appears in compound nouns like 'random-number generator' or 'static-site generator'.

### 3. source or creator

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a person, thing, or event that causes something to happen or exist.

For teachers: an agent, person, or entity that originates or produces a particular state or substance.

- The new factory will be a major generator of jobs for the local community.
- Tourism has become the primary generator of foreign exchange for the small island nation over the last decade.

Teaching tip: In formal writing, this is often used to describe abstract things like 'revenue', 'interest', or 'employment'.

### 4. mathematics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a point, line, or shape that is used to create a larger geometric figure.

For teachers: an element of a group or a geometric figure that can be used to define or create the entire structure.

- The teacher explained how a circle can act as a generator for a cylinder.
- In group theory, a generator is an element that, when combined with itself repeatedly, produces every other element in the set.

## Examples

- We used a portable generator to keep the lights on during the storm.
- The hospital relies on a massive backup generator to ensure life-saving equipment stays powered during a blackout.
- While the primary turbine provides the bulk of the facility's power, the secondary generator remains on standby to handle peak loads during the summer months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.