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general

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
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.

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

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

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]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.generalgeneral - a general officer of the highest rank
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
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"
Verb1.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.generalgeneral - of worldwide scope or applicability; "an issue of cosmopolitan import"; "the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley; "universal experience"
comprehensive - including all or everything; "comprehensive coverage"; "a comprehensive history of the revolution"; "a comprehensive survey"; "a comprehensive education"

general
Translations
Spanish general [ˈdʒɛnərl] ngeneral m
adjgeneral;
in general → en general;
general audit → auditoría general;
the general public → el gran público

French general [ˈdʒɛnərl] ngénéral m
adjgénéral(e);
in general → en général;
the general public → le grand public;
general audit (Comm) → vérification annuelle

German general [ˈdʒɛnərl] nGeneral m
adjallgemein;
(widespread) → weitverbreitet;
(non-specific) → generell;
in general → im Allgemeinen;
the general public → die Öffentlichkeit, die Allgemeinheit;
general audit (Comm) → Jahresabschlussprüfung f

Italian general [ˈdʒɛnərl] ngenerale m
adjgenerale;
in general → in genere;
the general public → il grande pubblico

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Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral town, where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty- five as a single lady can be.
A tall, grey-haired man in the uniform of a general looked up and nodded with an air of intimacy as soon as the door had been closed.
The General eyed me coldly, greeted me in rather haughty fashion, and dismissed me to pay my respects to his sister.
 
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