generation

Everyday

1. A generation is all the people born and living at about the same time, like children, parents or grandparents. tree →
2. A generation is the time it takes children to grow up and have their own children, about 25–30 years. tree →
3. Generation means making something, especially electricity: power generation. tree →
4. A generation of a product is one version of it, like a new generation of phones. tree →

In the lessons

In family and history lessons, a family tree shows generations: you, your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. In science, generation is producing electricity from wind, sun or water. In stories, a secret or a house is «passed down from generation to generation». Phrases: «younger generation», «older generation», «from generation to generation», «next generation», «electricity generation».

Examples

• Three generations of my family live in our house. tree →
• The recipe was passed down from generation to generation. tree →
• My grandparents' generation didn't have mobile phones. tree →
• Wind farms are used for electricity generation. tree →
• The younger generation loves video games. tree →
• A family tree shows four generations. tree →
• The new generation of tablets is faster. tree →
• Our generation must look after the planet. tree →
• But the vow was broken, and for nine generations of men none of the Lambtons died in his bed. tree →

Note

Countable for groups (generations); uncountable for making power. Verb: generate. Maths: a «generation» of 25–30 years means about three or four generations per century.

In Jewish tradition

It can mean a period of people's lives, or an account of a family's history, as in "these are the generations of Noah."

Interpretation. Tradition reads "generations" as the story of what a person's life produced, and it also counts each generation as having its own character, like the Flood generation or the generation of the wilderness.

Examples

• These are the generations of Noah. (Torah GEN.6.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the generations of Shem. (Torah GEN.11.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the generations of Jacob. (Torah GEN.37.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• May his years be as many generations! (Writings PSA.61.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• He that called the generations from the beginning. (Prophets ISA.41.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations? (Writings PSA.85.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable for groups (generations); uncountable for making power. Verb: generate. Maths: a «generation» of 25–30 years means about three or four generations per century.