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general

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarygen·er·al I \ˈjen-rəl, ˈje-nə-\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin generalis, from gener-, genus kind, class — more at kin DATE 14th century1. involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole2. involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group the general equation of a straight line3. not confined by specialization or careful limitation4. belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals :generic5. a. applicable to or characteristic of the majority of individuals involved : prevalent b. concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects6. relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limited details bearing a general resemblance to the original7. holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled the general manager II noun DATE 14th century1. something (as a concept, principle, or statement) that involves or is applicable to the whole2. superior general3. archaic : the general public : people4. a. general officer b. a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a lieutenant general and whose insignia is four stars — compare admiral • • •- in generalEnglish Etymologygeneral general (adj.) c.1300 (implied in generally), from L. generalis "relating to all, of a whole class" (contrasted with specialis), from genus (gen.generis) "stock, kind" (see genus). Noun sense of "commander of an army" is 1576 shortening of captain general, from M.Frhttp://M.Fr.capitaine général. The title generalissimo (1621) is from It., superlative of generale, from a sense development similar to the Fr.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7☞ generalgen·eral / 5dVenrEl / adjectiveAFFECTING ALL 涉及全部 1. affecting all or most people, places or things 全体的；普遍的；总的: The general opinion is that the conference was a success. 普遍认为这次会议是成功的。 the general belief / consensus 普遍的信念/共识 books of general interest (= of interest to most people) 普遍感兴趣的书籍 The bad weather has been fairly general (= has affected most areas). 坏天气影响到的范围相当大。 USUAL 通常 2. [usually before noun] normal; usual 正常的；一般的；常规的: There is one exception to this general principle. 这个一般性原则有一例外。 As a general rule (= usually) he did what he could to be helpful. 一般情况下他都尽力给予帮助。 This opinion is common among the general population (= ordinary people). 这是人们普遍的看法。 NOT DETAILED 笼统 3. including the most important aspects of sth; not exact or detailed 概括性的；大体的；笼统的 SYN overall : I check the bookings to get a general idea of what activities to plan. 我核查预订情况以便对计划安排些什么活动有个大体的想法。 I know how it works in general terms. 我大致知道其中的运作原理。 They gave a general description of the man. 他们对这个男人作了大致的描述。 DIRECTION / AREA 方向；地区 4. the ~ direction / area approximately, but not exactly, the direction / area mentioned 大致的,大概的(方向或地区): They fired in the general direction of the enemy. 他们向敌军大致的方向开了枪。 NOT LIMITED 未限定 5. not limited to a particular subject, use or activity 非专门的；一般性的；普通的: a general hospital 综合医院 general education 普通教育 We shall at this stage keep the discussion fairly general. 我们在此阶段应保持相当广泛的讨论。 6. not limited to one part or aspect of a person or thing 整体的；全身的；全面的: a general anaesthetic 全身麻醉 The building was in a general state of disrepair. 整座建筑处于失修状态。 HIGHEST IN RANK 最高级别 7. [only before noun] (also General [after noun]) highest in rank; chief 首席的；总管的: the general manager 总经理 the Inspector General of Police 警察总监 ⇨ see also Attorney General , director general , Governor General , Secretary General , Solicitor General , Surgeon General IDIOMS ▪ in 'general 1. usually; mainly 通常；大体上: In general, Japanese cars are very reliable and breakdowns are rare. 日本汽车通常是很可靠的,发生故障的情况极少。 2. as a whole 总的说来；从总体上看: This is a crucial year for your relationships in general and your love life in particular. 这一年对你们的关系,特别是你们的爱情生活是非常关键的。 noun (abbr. Gen.) an officer of very high rank in the army and the US air force ; the officer with the highest rank in the marines 将军；(陆军、海军陆战队或美国空军)上将: a four-star general 四星上将 General Tom Parker 汤姆 · 帕克将军 ⇨ see also brigadier general , major generalOxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of EnglishOxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishgeneral noun GENERAL + VERB command sth, lead sth Both generals had commanded units in that area. 　• Note at RANKMerriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Editionn. Function: adjective 1 conforming to what is expected in the ordinary course of events FF1C;the general problems of everyday lifeFF1E; Synonyms: common, commonplace, matter-of-course, natural, normal, prevalent, regular, run-of-the-mill, typic, typical, usual Related Words: everyday, popular; familiar, universal; habitual, humdrum, routine, uneventful Contrasted Words: abnormal, extraordinary, irregular, novel, strange, unexpected, unforeseeable, unusual 2 belonging or relating to the whole FF1C;a general change in the weatherFF1E; Synonyms: common, generic, universal Related Words: natural, normal, regular, typical; broad, inclusive, wide Contrasted Words: individual, particular, special; characteristic, distinctive, peculiar 3 Synonyms: ALL-AROUND 2, comprehensive, global, inclusive, overall, sweeping 4 Synonyms: PUBLIC 4, popular, vulgarWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedgen·er·alI. \ˈjen(ə)rəl\ adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin generalis, from gener-, genus birth, race, class, kind + -alis -al — more at kin1. : involving or belonging to the whole of a body, group, class, or type : applicable or relevant to the whole rather than to a limited part, group, or section < appearance of general decay > < a general change in temperature >2. : involving or belonging to every member of a class, kind, or group : applicable to every one in the unit referred to : not exclusive or excluding < ladies, a general welcome from his grace salutes ye all — Shakespeare > < those first assemblies were general, with all freemen bound to attend — American Guide Series: Maryland >3. a. : applicable or pertinent to the majority of individuals involved :characteristic of the majority : prevalent, usual, widespread < the general opinion > < a custom general in these areas > < the conflict became general > < we, the people of the United States, in order to … promote the general welfare — U.S. Constitution > b. : concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects < general history >4. : marked by broad overall character without being limited, modified, or checked by narrow precise considerations : concerned with main elements, major matters rather than limited details, or universals rather than particulars : approximate rather than strictly accurate < a general outline > < bearing a general resemblance to the original > < the rock formations of the state have a general northeast-southwest trend — American Guide Series: New Hampshire >5. : not confined by specialization or careful limitation : not limited to a particular class, type, or field : inclusive and manifesting or characterized by scope, diversity, or variety : broad, catholic, comprehensive < a general drugstore > < a general surgeon >6. : belonging to the common nature (as of a group of like individuals) : generic < the general characteristics of a species > < long shaggy hair is general among bears >7. : holding superior rank : taking precedence (as over others similarly titled) < general mananger >: having wide authority or responsibility < a general captain > < the general board >— sometimes used postpositively < the master general >8. : designed for students without special ability or vocational plans < a general course in science >— compare college-preparatory, commercial9. : of or relating to a universal term or proposition or a quantified statement in logic — opposed to singular10. : involving or affecting practically the entire organism : not local < general nervousness >Synonyms: see universalII. noun(-s)1. archaic : whole, total2. a. : something (as a concept, fact, idea, principle, proposition, or statement) that comprehends the whole or total < a description that spends too much time on the general and too little on the particular > specifically : generality b. : genus, universal3. a. archaic : the general public : people b. Britain : a servant for general work4. [Medieval Latin generalis, from Latin generalis, adjective (in such phrases as abbas generalis, literally, general abbot)] : the chief of a religious order of all houses or congregations under one religious rule; specifically : superior general5. [Middle French, from Old Italian generale (also, chief of a religious order), from Medieval Latin generalis] archaic : the commander in chief of an army6. a. : a military officer of high rank — see brigadier general, general of the air force, general of the army, lieutenant general, major general b. : a military officer who is junior only to a general of the army, to a general of the air force, or to a field marshal, wears 4 stars, and ranks with a four-star admiral of the navy7. : the supreme commander of the Salvation Army — compare salvationist•- in general

General The A Not Limited The B Officer