general

gen•er•al

[[t]ˈdʒɛn ər əl[/t]] adj.

1) of, pertaining to, or affecting all persons or things belonging to a group, category, or system:

a general meeting of members; a general amnesty[/ex]

2) of, pertaining to, or true of such persons or things in the main; common to most; usual:

the general mood of the people[/ex]

3) not limited to one class, field, product, service, etc.; miscellaneous:

the general public[/ex]

4) considering or dealing with broad or important aspects, elements, etc.; not detailed:

general guidelines; a general description[/ex]

5) not specific; approximate:

a general idea of what was going on[/ex]

6) med affecting the entire body:

general paralysis[/ex]

7) (of anesthesia or an anesthetic) causing loss of consciousness and abolishing sensitivity to pain throughout the body

8) having extended command or superior or chief rank:

the secretary general of the U.N[/ex]

9) mil

a) an army or air force officer ranking above a lieutenant general and below a general of the army or general of the air force

b) mil an army officer of any of the five highest ranks: brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, general, or general of the army

c) an officer holding the highest rank in the U.S. Marine Corps

10) rel the chief official of a religious order

11) something that is general; generality

12) archaic the general public

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- in general

Etymology: 1250–1300; < L generālis=gener-, s. of genus genus+-ālis -al I