separate Hear it!

separate Definition

sepa·rate (sep′ə rāt′; for adj. & n., sep′ə rit, sep′rit)

transitive verb -·rat′ed, -·rat′·ing

  1. to set or put apart into sections, groups, sets, units, etc.; cause to part; divide; disunite; sever
  2. to see the differences between; distinguish or discriminate between
  3. to keep apart by being between; divide a hedge that separates the yards
  4. to bring about a separation between (a husband and wife)
  5. to single out or set apart from others for a special purpose; sort; segregate
  6. to take away (a part or ingredient) from a combination or mixture
  7. to discharge; specif.,
    1. to release from military service
    2. ☆ to dismiss from employment
  8. to dislocate (a body joint)

Etymology: ME separaten < L separatus, pp. of separare, to separate < se-, apart (see secede) + parare, to arrange, prepare

intransitive verb

  1. to withdraw or secede to separate from a party
  2. to part, come or draw apart, or become disconnected
  3. to part company; go in different directions; cease to associate
  4. to stop living together as husband and wife without a divorce
  5. to become distinct or disengaged, as from a mixture
  6. to become dislocated, as a shoulder

adjective

  1. set apart or divided from the rest or others; not joined, united, or connected; severed
  2. not associated or connected with others; having existence as an entity; distinct; individual
  3. thought of or regarded as having individual form or function the separate parts of the body
  4. of or for one only; not shared or held in common separate beds
  5. Archaic withdrawn from others; solitary

noun

  1. offprint
  2. coordinated articles of dress worn as a set or separately in various combinations

separate Related Forms

sep′a·rately adverb sep′a·rate·ness noun

separate Synonyms

separate

v.

  1. To cause to part

    part, divide, undo, distribute, sever, sunder; see also divide 1.

  2. To keep apart

    isolate, insulate, single out, sequester, seclude, rope off, segregate, intervene, stand between, draw apart, split up, break up.

  3. To part company

    take leave, go away, depart; see leave 1.

  4. To classify

    assign, distribute, group; see classify, order 3.

separate implies the putting apart of things previously united, joined, or assembled to separate machine parts, a family, etc.; divide implies a separation into parts, pieces, groups, etc. by or as by cutting, splitting, branching, etc., often for purposes of apportionment to divide the profits into equal shares; part is now usually applied to the separation of persons or things that have been closely connected or associated refused to part with his teddy bearsever implies a forcible and complete separation, as by cutting off a part from a whole to sever a branch from a tree, severed all relations with her brother; sunder, now largely a literary term, implies a violent splitting, tearing, or wrenching apart

separate Usage Examples

Object

nave: I was also struck by the iron grille which separates the nave from the nun's choir with two rows of ancient choir stalls.

Subject

  • comma: Keywords or keyword phrases must be separated by commas.
  • colon: The list is separated by colons ( i.e. , " : " ) on Unix, semi- colons on OS/2 EMX.
  • dot: Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots.
  • distillation: Explain why water and alcohol can be separated by distillation.
  • space: Words can be separated by a space or by a comma.
  • dash: He shows this in a series of questions, while the verse becomes disjointed - a series of clauses separated by dashes.

Modifies a noun

  • entity: Setting up a Limited Company A limited company is a separate legal entity from its members.
  • WC: There is a spacious reception, a kitchen, a double bedroom, a bathroom and separate WC.
  • sheet: Use two separate sheets of paper rather than one sheet printed on both sides.
  • occasion: However, it must be on two separate occasions.
  • room: The upper floor also benefits from a separate study room.
  • section: There is a separate section about the Computer readable output later.

Used with adjective complement

keep: These two issues need to be kept quite separate to avoid confusion.

Preposition: from

nave: The spacious chancel is separated from the nave and aisles by a lofty carved wooden screen and contains some ancient and modem monuments.

Preposition: by

  • comma: Keywords or keyword phrases must be separated by commas.
  • colon: The list is separated by colons ( i.e. , " : " ) on Unix, semi- colons on OS/2 EMX.
  • dot: Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots.
  • distillation: Explain why water and alcohol can be separated by distillation.
  • space: Words can be separated by a space or by a comma.