1 [C] all the people in a family, group or country who were born at about the same time 同代人；一代人: We should look after the planet for future generations. 我们应当为子孙后代着想，照管好这颗星球。 This photograph shows three generations of my family(= children, parents and grandparents). 这是我家三代同堂的全家福。 ☞Look at first generation. 参看 first generation。

2 [C] the average time that children take to grow up and have children of their own, usually considered to be about 25-30 years 一代（通常约25－30年，也就是小孩长大成人所需的时间）: A generation ago foreign travel was still only possible for a few people. 二三十年前出国旅游还只有少数人才能办到。

3 [U] the production of sth, especially heat, power, etc 产生（尤指热、电力等）