generator

Noun

1. One who, or that which, generates, begets, causes, or produces.

   1. (chemistry) 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. (music) The principal sound or sounds by which others are produced; the fundamental note or root of the common chord; -- see also generating tone.

   3. (music) An interval that is repeatedly stacked to obtain other pitches in tuning systems or scales.

   4. (mathematics) 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. (geometry) One of the lines of a ruled surface; more generally, an element of some family of linear spaces.

   6. (programming) 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

2. 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...
      • 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...
      • Using a tractor fan, shock absorbers, PVC pipes, a bicycle frame and anything else he could lay his hands on, he then built a rudimentary wooden tower, plonked his home-made generator on the top, and eventually got one,...