general🔊

Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal. +

(postpositive) {{ng|Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms}}; pre-eminent.

Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual. +

Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range. +

Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.

Not of a specific class; miscellaneous.

(military rank) (military ranks) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.

(strategist) A great strategist or tactician.

(rare) A general fact or proposition; a generality.

(Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.

(xiangqi) The equivalent of a king in Chinese chess, the xiangqi piece that is confined to the palace, moves orthogonally one point at a time, and whose loss decides the game.

(obsolete) (admiral){{ngd|, a senior naval title, a great naval strategist or tactician.}} (18th c.)

(historical) (general servant){{ngd|, a maid-of-all-work, a servant able to be assigned to any task in a household.}}

(general election){{ngd|, a regular election for most offices in a region or country.}}

(general anesthetic){{ngd|, a substance used to numb most feeling throughout the body.}}

(general anesthesia){{ngd|, the category of substances used to numb most feeling throughout the body or an instance of such substances.}}

(insurance) (general insurance){{ngd|, the area of the insurance industry dealing with policies for the general public.}}

To lead (soldiers) as a general.

(obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.