gen|er|al|ize

gen|er|al|ize «JEHN uhr uh lyz, JEHN ruh-», verb, -ized, -iz|ing.

–v.t.

1. to make into one general statement; bring under a common heading, class, or law.

2. to infer (a general rule) from particular facts: »

Knowledge experience generalized (John Stuart Mill).

3. to state in a more general form; extend in application: »

The statement that 5 + 3 = 8 and 50 + 30 = 80 can be generalized to the form 5a + 3a = 8a.

4. to bring into general use or knowledge; popularize.

5. to make general; give a general form or character to.

–v.i.

1. to infer a general rule from particular facts; make general inferences: »

If you have seen cats, lions, leopards, and tigers eat meat, you can generalize and say, “The cat family eats meat.” It is a dangerous business to generalize about what the American voter will do (Tom Wicker).

2. to talk or write indefinitely or vaguely; use generalities: »

The news commentator generalized because he knew no details.

3. to become general; spread: »

This fear [of a dog] may generalize…even more widely to other animals and to such objects as fur coats (Walter Mischel).

–gen´er|al|iz´er, noun.