General
WordNet
adjective
(1) Prevailing among and common to the general public
"The general discontent"
(2) Of worldwide scope or applicability
"An issue of cosmopolitan import"
"The shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley
"Universal experience"
(3) Not specialized or limited to one class of things
"General studies"
"General knowledge"
(4) 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"
(5) Of national scope
"A general election"
(6) Affecting the entire body
"A general anesthetic"
"General symptoms"
(7) Somewhat indefinite
"Bearing a general resemblance to the original"
"A general description of the merchandise"
noun
(8) A fact about the whole (as opposed to particular)
"He discussed the general but neglected the particular"
(9) A general officer of the highest rank
(10) The head of a religious order or congregation
verb
(11) Command as a general
"We are generaled by an incompetent!"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From Latin generalis, from noun genus + adjective suffix -alis
Adjective
- not specific or particular
- concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category
Noun
- A rank in the army and air force that is higher than colonel or brigadier, and is usually the highest rank group next to commander in chief, except in countries that use the rank of field marshal.
- a commissioned rank in the British Army and Royal Marines, above lieutenant general and below field marshal.
- a commissioned general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force superior to a lieutenant general. A general is equal in rank or grade to a four star admiral. In the US Army, a general is junior to a general of the army. In the US Marine Corps, a general is the highest rank of commissioned officer. In the US Air Force, a general is junior to a general of the air force.
- Short for general anaesthetic or general anaesthetia.