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# generation

noun (a generation, generations; generation — uncountable, of making power)

«generation» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A generation is all the people born and living at about the same time, like children, parents or grandparents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#m1)
2. A generation is the time it takes children to grow up and have their own children, about 25–30 years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#m2)
3. Generation means making something, especially electricity: power generation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#m3)
4. A generation of a product is one version of it, like a new generation of phones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#m4)

### In the lessons

In family and history lessons, a family tree shows generations: you, your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. In science, generation is producing electricity from wind, sun or water. In stories, a secret or a house is «passed down from generation to generation». Phrases: «younger generation», «older generation», «from generation to generation», «next generation», «electricity generation».

### Examples

- Three generations of my family live in our house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x1)
- The recipe was passed down from generation to generation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x2)
- My grandparents' generation didn't have mobile phones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x3)
- Wind farms are used for electricity generation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x4)
- The younger generation loves video games. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x5)
- A family tree shows four generations. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x6)
- The new generation of tablets is faster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x7)
- Our generation must look after the planet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x8)
- But the vow was broken, and for nine generations of men none of the Lambtons died in his bed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/#x9)

### Note

Countable for groups (generations); uncountable for making power. Verb: generate. Maths: a «generation» of 25–30 years means about three or four generations per century.

## In Jewish tradition

It can mean a period of people's lives, or an account of a family's history, as in "these are the generations of Noah."

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads "generations" as the story of what a person's life produced, and it also counts each generation as having its own character, like the Flood generation or the generation of the wilderness.

### Examples

- These are the generations of Noah. (Torah GEN.6.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x1)
- These are the generations of Shem. (Torah GEN.11.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x2)
- These are the generations of Jacob. (Torah GEN.37.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x3)
- May his years be as many generations! (Writings PSA.61.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x4)
- He that called the generations from the beginning. (Prophets ISA.41.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x5)
- Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations? (Writings PSA.85.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/#x6)

### Note

Countable for groups (generations); uncountable for making power. Verb: generate. Maths: a «generation» of 25–30 years means about three or four generations per century.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «generation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/generation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«generation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/generation.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «generation» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/generation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«generation» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/generation.html) on Mova free.