generate

Everyday

1. To generate something is to produce or make it, like electricity, heat or power. tree →
2. To generate means to cause something or bring it about: generate interest, generate ideas. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons power stations, wind turbines and solar panels generate electricity. In maths, a rule generates a sequence: «start at 3 and add 4» generates 3, 7, 11, 15. In everyday life a computer can generate a password. Phrases: generate electricity, generate ideas, randomly generated.

Examples

• Wind turbines generate electricity. tree →
• The fire generated a lot of heat. tree →
• Use the rule to generate the first five numbers. tree →
• The school fair generated £500 for charity. tree →
• Let's generate some ideas for our story. tree →
• The computer generated a random number. tree →
• Rubbing your hands together generates heat. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Nouns: generator (a machine that makes electricity), generation (making; also a group of people born about the same time). In maths, a rule generates the terms of a sequence.