generator

Noun

generator (plural generators)

1. An apparatus in which vapour or gas is formed from a liquid or solid by means of heat or chemical process, as a steam boiler, gas retort etc.
2. The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced; the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- see also generating tone.
3. An interval that is repeatedly stacked to obtain other pitches in tuning systems or scales.
4. An element of a group that is used in the presentation of the group: one of the elements from which the others can be inferred with the given relators.
5. One of the lines of a ruled surface; more generally, an element of some family of linear spaces.
6. A subordinate piece of code which, given some initial parameters, will generate multiple output values on request.
   • When you come across something that looks like a listcomp but is surrounded by parentheses, you're looking at a generator: […]2016, Paul Barry, Head First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide, O'Reilly, →ISBN, page 508

   Synonyms:

   semicoroutine

7. A piece of apparatus, equipment, etc, to convert or change energy from one form to another.
   1. Especially, a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
      • In 1915, concurrent with the L.S.W.R. electrification, power was supplied from the Waterloo sub-station, and the old equipment held in reserve. Some generator sets were removed, and motor generators installed for standby lighting and other services.1958 August, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523
      • Heating in the passenger sections is by electricity obtained from the main generator. When heating is dictated by the operation of a thermostat in the roof of the motor coach, engine idling speed is 600 r.p.m. instead of the normal 450 r.p.m. in order to produce a high enough generator voltage...1962 December, “The Oxted Line diesel-electric multiple-units”, in Modern Railways, page 383