Thy mother's of my generation; what's she, if I be a dog?
Shak.
6. (Geom.) The formation or production of any geometrical magnitude, as
a line, a surface, a solid, by the motion, in accordance with a
mathematical law, of a point or a magnitude; as, the generation of a
line or curve by the motion of a point, of a surface by a line, a
sphere by a semicircle, etc.
7. (Biol.) The aggregate of the functions and phenomene which attend
reproduction.
There are four modes of generation in the animal kingdom: scissiparity
or by fissiparous generation, gemmiparity or by budding, germiparity or
by germs, and oviparity or by ova.
Alternate generation (Biol.), alternation of sexual with asexual
generation, in which the products of one process differ from those of
the other, -- a form of reproduction common both to animal and
vegetable organisms. In the simplest form, the organism arising from
sexual generation produces offspiring unlike itself, agamogenetically.
These, however, in time acquire reproductive organs, and from their
impregnated germs the original parent form is reproduced. In more
complicated cases, the first series of organisms produced
agamogenetically may give rise to others by a like process, and these
in turn to still other generations. Ultimately, however, a generation
is formed which develops sexual organs, and the original form is
reproduced. -- Spontaneous generation (Biol.), the fancied production
of living organisms without previously existing parents from inorganic
matter, or from decomposing organic matter, a notion which at one time
had many supporters; abiogenesis.
Gen"er*a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. gÈnÈratif.] Having the power of
generating, propagating, originating, or producing. "That generative
particle." Bentley.
Gen"er*a`tor (?), n. [L.] 1. One who, or that which, generates, begets,
causes, or produces.
2. An apparatus in which vapor or gas is formed from a liquid or solid
by means of heat or chemical process, as a steam boiler, gas retort, or
vessel for generating carbonic acid gas, etc.
3. (Mus.) The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced;
the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- called also
generating tone.
Gen`er*a"trix (?), n.; pl. L. Generatrices (#), E. Generatrixes (#).
[L.] (Geom.) That which generates; the point, or the mathematical
magnitude, which, by its motion, generates another magnitude, as a
line, surface, or solid; -- called also describent.
{ Ge*ner"ic (?), Ge*ner"ic*al (?), } a. [L. genus, generis, race, kind:
cf. F. gÈnÈrique. See Gender.]
1. (Biol.) Pertaining to a genus or kind; relating to a genus, as
distinct from a species, or from another genus; as, a generic
description; a generic difference; a generic name.
2. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or
their characteristics; -- opposed to specific.
Ge*ner"ic*al*ly, adv. With regard to a genus, or an extensive class;
as, an animal generically distinct from another, or two animals or
plants generically allied.
Ge*ner"ic*al*ness, n. The quality of being generic.
Ge*ner`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. genus kind, class + -ficare (in comp.)
to make. See -fy.] The act or process of generalizing.
Out of this the universal is elaborated by generification.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Gen`er*os"i*ty (?), n. [L. generositas: cf. F. gÈnÈrositÈ.] 1. Noble
birth. [Obs.] Harris (Voyages).