general

adjective

• 1affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread:books of general interest the general opinion was that prices would fall
• not specialized or limited in range of subject, application, activity, etc.:brush up on your general knowledge
• (of a rule, principle, etc.) true for all or most cases.
• normal or usual:it is not general practice to confirm or deny such reports

• 2considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed:the arrangements were outlined in very general terms a general introduction to the subject

• 3 [often in titles] chief or principal:the Director General of the BBC the general manager

noun

• 1a commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.
• a high rank of officer in the army and in the US air force, above lieutenant general and below field marshal, general of the army, or general of the air force.
• informalshort for lieutenant general or major general.
• the head of a religious order organized on quasi-military lines, e.g. the Jesuits, the Dominicans, or the Salvation Army.

• 2 (the general) archaic the general public.