general

gen·er·al  (jnr-l)

adj.

1. Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category: "subduing all her impressions as a woman, to something more general" Virginia Woolf.

2. Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent: general discontent.

3. Of or affecting the entire body: general paralysis.

4. Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all: the general correctness of her decisions.

5.

a. Not limited in scope, area, or application: as a general rule.

b. Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified: general studies.

6. Involving only the main features rather than precise details: a general grasp of the subject.

7. Highest or superior in rank: the general manager.

n.

1.

a. Abbr. GEN or Gen or Gen. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant general.

b. One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

2. A general officer.

3. A statement, principle, or fact that embraces or is applicable to the whole.

4. General anesthesia.

5. Archaic The public.

Idiom:

in general

Generally.

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[Middle English, from Latin generlis, from genus, gener-, kind; see gen- in Indo-European roots.]

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gener·al·ness n.

Synonyms: general, common, generic, universal
These adjectives mean belonging to, relating to, or affecting the whole: the general welfare; a common enemy; generic likenesses; universal military conscription.

Antonym: particular

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general

Adjective

1. common or widespread: general goodwill

2. of, affecting, or including all or most of the members of a group

3. not specialized or specializing: a general hospital

4. including various or miscellaneous items: general knowledge

5. not definite; vague: the examples used will give a general idea

6. highest in authority or rank: the club's general manager

Noun

1. a very senior military officer

2. in general generally; mostly or usually [Latin generalis]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	general - a general officer of the highest rank full general armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" general officer - officers in the Army or Air Force or Marines above the rank of colonel Blucher, G. L. von Blucher, Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, von Blucher - Prussian general who is remembered for his leadership in the wars against Napoleon (1742-1819)
	2.	general - the head of a religious order or congregation superior general chief, top dog, head - a person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation"
	3.	general - a fact about the whole (as opposed to particular); "he discussed the general but neglected the particular" fact - a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred; "first you must collect all the facts of the case" particular, specific - a fact about some part (as opposed to general); "he always reasons from the particular to the general" particular, specific - a fact about some part (as opposed to general); "he always reasons from the particular to the general"
Verb	1.	general - command as a general; "We are generaled by an incompetent!" command - be in command of; "The general commanded a huge army"
Adj.	1.	general - applying to all or most members of a category or group; "the general public"; "general assistance"; "a general rule"; "in general terms"; "comprehensible to the general reader" comprehensive - including all or everything; "comprehensive coverage"; "a comprehensive history of the revolution"; "a comprehensive survey"; "a comprehensive education" indiscriminate - not marked by fine distinctions; "indiscriminate reading habits"; "an indiscriminate mixture of colors and styles" imprecise - not precise; "imprecise astronomical observations"; "the terms he used were imprecise and emotional" unspecialised, unspecialized - not specialized or modified for a particular purpose or function specific - (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique; "rules with specific application"; "demands specific to the job"; "a specific and detailed account of the accident"
	2.	general - not specialized or limited to one class of things; "general studies"; "general knowledge" undiversified - not diversified
	3.	general - prevailing among and common to the general public; "the general discontent" common - having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual; "the common man"; "a common sailor"; "the common cold"; "a common nuisance"; "followed common procedure"; "it is common knowledge that she lives alone"; "the common housefly"; "a common brand of soap"
	4.	general - affecting the entire body; "a general anesthetic"; "general symptoms" medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques local - affecting only a restricted part or area of the body; "local anesthesia"
	5.	general - somewhat indefinite; "bearing a general resemblance to the original"; "a general description of the merchandise" imprecise - not precise; "imprecise astronomical observations"; "the terms he used were imprecise and emotional"
	6.	general - of worldwide scope or applicability; "an issue of cosmopolitan import"; "the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley; "universal experience" universal, ecumenical, oecumenical, world-wide, worldwide, cosmopolitan comprehensive - including all or everything; "comprehensive coverage"; "a comprehensive history of the revolution"; "a comprehensive survey"; "a comprehensive education"

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general

adjective 1. widespread, accepted, popular, public, common, broad, extensive, universal, prevailing, prevalent << OPPOSITE individual

adjective 2. overall, complete, total, global, comprehensive, blanket, inclusive, all-embracing, overarching << OPPOSITE restricted

adjective 3. universal, overall, widespread, collective, across-the-board, all-inclusive << OPPOSITE exceptional

4. vague, broad, loose, blanket, sweeping, unclear, inaccurate, approximate, woolly, indefinite, hazy, imprecise, ill-defined, inexact, unspecific, undetailed << OPPOSITE specific

Translations

general [ˈdʒɛnərl] n → general m

adj → general;

in general → en general;

general audit → auditoría general;

the general public → el gran público

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general [ˈdʒɛnərl] n → général m

adj → général(e);

in general → en général;

the general public → le grand public;

general audit (Comm) → vérification annuelle

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general [ˈdʒɛnərl] n → General m

adj → allgemein;

(widespread) → weitverbreitet;

(non-specific) → generell;

in general → im Allgemeinen;

the general public → die Öffentlichkeit, die Allgemeinheit;

general audit (Comm) → Jahresabschlussprüfung f

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general [ˈdʒɛnərl] n → generale m

adj → generale;

in general → in genere;

the general public → il grande pubblico