generalise
gb/d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/ us/d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/
B2
English
általánosít, általános következtetést levon, leegyszerűsít, generalizálódik, átterjed
VERB
B2
1
általánosít
B2
Usage pattern:
generalise (about [someone/something])
It’s unfair to generalise about an entire culture based on one experience.
Egyetlen tapasztalat alapján igazságtalan egy egész kultúráról általánosítani.
She tends to generalise and forget that there are many exceptions.
Hajlamos általánosítani, és megfeledkezik róla, hogy sok kivétel van.
Don’t generalise from a single comment to what everyone thinks.
Learner examples
You can’t generalise about all students.
Nem általánosíthatsz az összes diákról.
He generalised and missed the details.
Általánosított, és elsiklott a részletek fölött.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse British spelling generalise with American spelling generalize; they mean the same.
Meaning
make broad statements about a group
Collocations
generalise about people
|generalise about women
|generalise about teenagers
|generalise too much
|tend to generalise
|it is wrong to generalise
|avoid generalising
|over-generalise
|a generalised view
|generalise from one case
Synonyms
oversimplify (Emphasises losing important detail.)
|
stereotype (Often implies an unfair generalisation about a group.)
Antonyms
specify (Gives exact details instead of broad statements.)
Themes
communication
|society
|thinking_skills
Definition
To talk about something in a very general way, not including details.
To make a general statement about people or things, often ignoring important differences or exceptions.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
generalise from [evidence/examples]
From these three experiments, we can generalise that the material expands when heated.
E három kísérlet alapján levonhatjuk azt az általános következtetést, hogy az anyag melegítés hatására kitágul.
It’s risky to generalise from such a small sample size.
Ilyen kis mintából kockázatos általánosítani.
Children quickly learn to generalise rules from just a few examples.
Learner examples
We cannot generalise from one test.
Egyetlen tesztből nem általánosíthatunk.
They generalised a rule from the results.
Az eredményekből egy általános szabályt vontak le.
Common mistake:
Generalise from means you start with specific examples; it does not mean ‘explain in detail’.
Meaning
draw a rule from examples
Collocations
generalise from data
|generalise from evidence
|generalise from experience
|generalise from a sample
|generalise from a few cases
|attempt to generalise
|it is difficult to generalise
|generalise a pattern
|generalise a principle
|generalise findings
Synonyms
infer (More general; does not always imply moving from specific cases to a broad rule.)
|
extrapolate (Often suggests extending beyond known data, sometimes with extra uncertainty.)
Antonyms
particularise (Focuses on specific cases rather than a general rule.)
Themes
education
|research
|thinking_skills
Definition
To make a general rule based on examples or data.
To form a general rule, principle, or conclusion from particular cases, evidence, or examples.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
általánosít
B2
Usage pattern:
generalise [a finding/idea] to [other situations/groups]
The study was done in one city, so the results may not generalise to rural areas.
A vizsgálatot egyetlen városban végezték, ezért az eredmények lehet, hogy nem általánosíthatók a vidéki területekre.
We need more data before we can generalise these findings to other age groups.
Több adatra van szükségünk, mielőtt ezeket az eredményeket más korcsoportokra általánosíthatnánk.
A good model should generalise well to new examples.
Learner examples
These results do not generalise to everyone.
Ezek az eredmények nem általánosíthatók mindenkire.
Can we generalise this rule to other cases?
Általánosíthatjuk ezt a szabályt más esetekre?
Common mistake:
Generalise to focuses on where you apply the idea; generalise from focuses on the starting evidence.
Meaning
apply results to other cases
Collocations
generalise to the wider population
|generalise to other settings
|generalise to other countries
|generalise the results
|generalise the findings
|generalise an approach
|generalise a method
|cannot be generalised
|easily generalised
|broadly generalisable
Synonyms
extend (Commoner and less academic; emphasises broadening scope.)
|
apply (Focuses on practical use in another context.)
Antonyms
restrict (Limits validity or use to a narrow context.)
Themes
research
|work
|education
Definition
To say something is also true for other situations or people.
To treat a result, idea, or method as valid in a wider range of situations or for a wider group than the original one.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
általánosít
B2
Usage pattern:
generalise [a description/model/design]
The map generalises minor roads to keep the image clear at this scale.
A térkép az apróbb utakat általánosítja, hogy ezen a léptéken áttekinthető maradjon.
To teach the concept, the instructor first generalised the problem and ignored special cases.
A fogalom megtanításához az oktató először általánosította a feladatot, és figyelmen kívül hagyta a speciális eseteket.
The artist generalised the facial features to create a stronger overall impression.
Learner examples
We generalised the diagram to make it simple.
Leegyszerűsítettük a diagramot, hogy egyszerűbb legyen.
The report generalised the details into one idea.
A jelentés a részleteket egyetlen általános gondolattá egyszerűsítette.
Common mistake:
Generalise here means ‘make more general’, not ‘make popular’.
Meaning
make something less detailed
Collocations
generalise a description
|generalise a model
|generalise a design
|generalise features
|generalise a diagram
|generalise the shape
|generalise details
|highly generalised
|a generalised form
|generalise the concept
Synonyms
abstract (Often suggests focusing on the essential features and leaving out detail.)
|
simplify (Emphasises making something easier to understand, not necessarily broader.)
Antonyms
detail (Adds specific information rather than removing it.)
Themes
communication
|design
|data
Definition
To remove details so something becomes more general.
To make a description, representation, or design more general by removing specific details or special cases.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
5
átterjed
B2
Usage pattern:
[a condition/infection/seizure] generalises
The rash began on his arms and then generalised to his torso.
A kiütés a karján kezdődött, majd átterjedt a törzsére.
If the infection generalises, it can become life-threatening.
Ha a fertőzés generalizálódik, életveszélyessé válhat.
Doctors monitored her closely to make sure the inflammation did not generalise.
Meaning
spread to whole body or area
Collocations
generalise rapidly
|generalise to the whole body
|generalise beyond the original site
|generalised infection
|generalised inflammation
|generalised seizures
Synonyms
spread (More general and non-technical.)
|
disseminate (More formal/technical; often used for disease or information.)
Antonyms
localise (Stay limited to one area rather than spreading.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
In medical use, to spread widely in the body.
In medicine, to spread from a local area to a wider area or to the whole body; to become generalised.
Grammar
Dictionary form
generalise
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/
US/d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/
Syllables & stress
gen - er - al - ise (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (gen)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: generalise
- 3rd Person Singular: generalises
- Present Participle: generalising
- Past: generalised
Word family
Forms
generalises
verb
generalising
verb
generalised
verb
Core family
Related words
generalize
verb C1
generalist
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
specific
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
generalisable
adjective
generality
noun
Expressions
to generalise
1/tə d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/
fixed phrase
speaking in a broad way
Used to mean “speaking generally”.
Examples
- To generalise, people prefer products that save them time.
- To generalise, the earlier we start, the better the results tend to be.
- To generalise, this approach works best with simple systems.
Learner examples
- To generalise, winter is colder than summer.
- To generalise, children learn fast.
without wishing to generalise
1/wɪðˈaʊt wˈɪʃɪŋ tə d͡ʒˈɛnɚəlɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
hedge before a broad claim
Used to show you know a general statement may not be true for everyone.
Examples
- Without wishing to generalise, customers tend to be more patient in smaller shops.
- Without wishing to generalise, people often feel more stressed at this time of year.
- Without wishing to generalise, older houses usually need more maintenance.
Learner examples
- Without wishing to generalise, some people dislike change.