segregate

To segregate is to separate a group of people because of race, gender or religion, or to set apart or keep separate.

(verb)

When girls and boys are required to attend different schools, this is an example of a time when the school system segregates.

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See segregate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

separate; set apart; segregated

Origin: ME segregat < L segregatus, pp. of segregare, to set apart, lit., to set apart from the flock < se-, apart (see secede) + grex (gen. gregis), a flock: see gregarious

transitive verb segregated, segregating

to set apart from others or from the main mass or group; isolate; specif., to impose a system of segregation on (racial groups, social facilities, etc.)

intransitive verb

  1. to separate from the main mass and collect together in a new body: said of crystals
  2. to separate from others; be segregated
  3. Genetics to undergo segregation

noun

a segregated person, thing, group, etc.

Related Forms:

See segregate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb seg·re·gat·ed, seg·re·gat·ing, seg·re·gates
verb, transitive
  1. To separate or isolate from others or from a main body or group. See Synonyms at isolate.
  2. To impose the separation of (a race or class) from the rest of society.
verb, intransitive
  1. To become separated from a main body or mass.
  2. To practice a policy of racial segregation.
  3. Genetics To undergo genetic segregation.
adjective (-gĭt, -gātˌ)
Separated; isolated.
noun (-gĭt, -gātˌ)
  1. One that is or has been segregated.
  2. Genetics See segregant.

Origin:

Origin: Latin sēgregāre, sēgregāt-

Origin: : sē-, apart; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + grex, greg-, flock; see ger- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • segˈre·gaˌtive adjective
  • segˈre·gaˌtor noun

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