generator

noun gen·er·a·tor \ ˈje-nə-ˌrā-tər \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of generator

1 : one that generates: such as

a : an apparatus in which vapor or gas is formed

b : a machine by which mechanical energy is changed into electrical energy

2 : a mathematical entity that when subjected to one or more operations yields another mathematical entity or its elements; specifically : generatrix

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Examples of generator in a Sentence

This new product will be a major revenue generator.
a backup generator for the store

Recent Examples of generator from the Web

The utility also has a backup 60-Hertz turbine brought online in 2014, plus several backup generators brought to the Carrollton plant days after the Aug. 5 flood.

— beau evans, NOLA.com, "Sewerage & Water Board prepped for hurricane season with meteorologist, real-time monitoring," 4 June 2018
During Harvey, Arkema -- a French multinational company that manufactures chemicals used to create plastic products -- lost control of its Crosby facility when 6 feet of water wiped out its power and backup generators.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Arkema officials were warned of flood risks a year before Hurricane Harvey," 24 May 2018
The Hollywood nursing home had no backup generator.

— marcia heroux pounds, Sun-Sentinel.com, "FPL's response to Hurricane Irma to be reviewed by state regulators this week," 30 Apr. 2018
The renovation also included installation of solar panels on the roof of the newer section of the building, which Rubin said are tied to a backup generator that will keep the lights on when the power goes out.

— libby solomon, baltimoresun.com, "Renovations at Aigburth Vale, a seniors housing complex in Towson, nearly complete," 26 Apr. 2018
The $147,500 i8 is a stunning two-door coupe plug-in hybrid, the $44,450 i3 a cool but kooky four-seater made of carbon fiber and featuring suicide rear doors, with a two-cylinder backup generator as a range extender.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "BMW's New Electric SUV Looks Shockingly Normal," 25 Apr. 2018
Despite the darkness, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yuliz assured people on Wednesday that the evening's game would go on, and that backup generators would be used to power the lights in the stadium if necessary.

— aj willingham, CNN, "This is what a baseball game looked like in a blacked-out Puerto Rico," 19 Apr. 2018
The island’s largest hospital and main international airport maintained power through backup generators.

— elizabeth zwirz, Fox News, "Puerto Rico island-wide blackout caused by damaged transmission line, officials say," 18 Apr. 2018
The engineer switched to a backup generator, but then another problem materialized with a fuel pump.

— laura crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, "At least it’s not tourist season: Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard dogged by breakdowns," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'generator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Generators work by rotating a coil of wire in a magnetic field, causing a current to flow in the wire. A generator may be a huge spinning turbine powered by water, wind, steam, gas, or nuclear reactions, which sends electricity out through power lines to thousands of customers. But normally when we use the word, we're thinking of a small machine powered by gasoline or diesel, such as you might keep in your basement for those times when a storm knocks out your power, to create electricity right in front of your eyes. A special kind of generator called an alternator powers a car's electrical system (including its lights, power steering, etc.) while the car is running.