Noun

1. One who, or that which, generates, begets, causes, or produces.
   1. An apparatus in which vapour or gas is formed from a liquid or solid by means of heat or chemical process, as a steam boiler, gas retort etc.
   2. The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced; the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- see also generating tone.
   3. An element of a group that is used in the presentation of the group: one of the elements from which the others can be inferred with the given relators.
   4. A subordinate piece of code which, given some initial parameters will generate multiple output values on request.
2. A piece of apparatus, equipment, etc, to convert or change energy from one form to another.
   1. Especially, a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.