generation
UK[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn]US[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn]
n
All the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.
n
The average period, generally considered to be about thirty years, in which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children of their own.
n
The action of producing or creating something.
Morpheme Breakdown
generat
ion
generat
to produce
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'generation' has its roots in the Latin verb generare, meaning 'to beget or produce'. This verb itself stems from the noun genus, meaning 'race, stock, kind', which can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root gene-, signifying 'to give birth, beget'. The suffix -ion was added to form a noun of action. Thus, the literal meaning of 'producing' evolved from the physical act of begetting offspring to encompass the group of people produced in a single period, and further extended to the production of non-living things like electricity or ideas.
Analysis
Structure: generat (to produce) + ion (noun suffix)
'generat' originates from Latin generatus, the past participle of generare meaning 'to beget, produce'. 'ion' is a Latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
My grandmother's generation experienced significant social changes.
The new power plant will reduce the cost of electricity generation.
There is often a gap in understanding between different generations.