generals

Noun

general (countable and uncountable, plural generals)

1. 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.
   • General Eisenhower was the first SACEUR.
2. A great strategist or tactician.
   • Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world.
3. (archaic) A general fact or proposition; a generality.
   • We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars.
4. The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.
5. 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.
6. (obsolete) Synonym of admiral, a senior naval title, a great naval strategist or tactician.

   Synonyms:

   admiral

See all 15 meanings of general