Main Entry: gen·er·ate

Pronunciation: \ˈje-nə-ˌrāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): gen·er·at·ed; gen·er·at·ing

Etymology: Latin generatus, past participle of generare, from gener-, genus descent, birth — more at kin

Date: 1509

1 : to bring into existence: as a : procreate, beget b : to originate by a vital, chemical, or physical process : produce <generate electricity>
2 : to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) <these stories…generate a good deal of psychological suspense — Atlantic>
3 : to define or originate (as a mathematical or linguistic set or structure) by the application of one or more rules or operations; especially : to trace out (as a curve) by a moving point or trace out (as a surface) by a moving curve