Separate definition

sĕpə-rāt

Words form:

separated separates separating

See word origin

Frequency:

To set, force, or keep apart.

The referee separated the two boxers.

verb

To remove from a mixture or combination; isolate.

verb

To cause (one person) to stop living with another, or to cause (a couple) to stop living together, often by decree.

She was separated from her husband last year. The couple have been separated for a year.

verb

To terminate a contractual relationship with (someone); discharge.

verb

To form a border or barrier between (two areas or groups).

A hedge separates the two yards.

verb

To single out or set apart from others for a special purpose; sort; segregate.

verb

Separate is defined as something or someone not connected to anything or anyone else.

An example of separate is an issue brought up at a meeting that isn't related to any other issues covered.

adjective

The definition of separate is to pull apart, disconnect or divide.

An example of separate is pulling a piece of string cheese off of the whole piece of cheese.

An example of separate is removing the charger from an mp3 player.

An example of separate is when a husband and wife no longer live together.

verb

To differentiate or discriminate between; distinguish.

A researcher who separated the various ethnic components of the population sample.

verb

To put space between; space apart or scatter.

Small farms that were separated one from another by miles of open land.

verb

Not touching or adjoined; detached.

The garage is separate from the house.

adjective

To become divided into components or parts.

Oil and water tend to separate.

verb

To place in different groups; sort.

Separate mail by postal zones.

verb

To cause to be distinct or different.

His natural talent separates him from all the others in the choir.

verb

To come apart; become detached.

The lining has separated from the inside of the coat.

verb

To withdraw or break away.

The state threatened to separate from the Union.

verb

To part company; go away from each other; disperse.

The friends separated at the end of the school year.

verb

To stop living together as a couple.

They separated after 10 years of marriage.

verb

Existing or considered as an independent entity.

The reference collection is separate from the rest of the library.

adjective

Dissimilar from all others; distinct or individual.

A cable made of many separate fibers; two people who hold separate views on the issue.

adjective

Having undergone schism or estrangement from a parent body.

Separate churches.

adjective

Something that is separate or distinct, especially:

A garment, such as a skirt, jacket, or pair of slacks, that may be purchased separately and worn in various combinations with other garments.
A stereo component that is purchased separately and connected to other components as part of a system.
An offprint of an article.

noun

To set or put apart into sections, groups, sets, units, etc.; cause to part; divide; disunite; sever.

verb

To see the differences between; distinguish or discriminate between.

verb

To keep apart by being between; divide.

A hedge that separates the yards.

verb

To bring about a separation between (a husband and wife)

verb

To take away (a part or ingredient) from a combination or mixture.

verb

To discharge.

To release from military service.
To dismiss from employment.

verb

To dislocate (a body joint)

verb

To withdraw or secede.

To separate from a party.

verb

To part, come or draw apart, or become disconnected.

verb

To part company; go in different directions; cease to associate.

verb

To stop living together as husband and wife; enter into a legal separation.

verb

To become distinct or disengaged, as from a mixture.

verb

To become dislocated, as a shoulder.

verb

Set apart or divided from the rest or others; not joined, united, or connected; severed.

adjective

Not associated or connected with others; having existence as an entity; distinct; individual.

adjective

Thought of or regarded as having individual form or function.

The separate parts of the body.

adjective

Of or for one only; not shared or held in common.

Separate beds.

adjective

(archaic) Withdrawn from others; solitary.

adjective

Offprint.

noun

Coordinated articles of dress worn as a set or separately in various combinations.

noun

Apart from (the rest); not connected to or attached to (anything else).

This chair can be disassembled into five separate pieces.

adjective

(followed by “from") Not together (with); not united (to).

I try to keep my personal life separate from work.

adjective

To divide (a thing) into separate parts.

Separate the articles from the headings.

verb

To disunite something from one thing; To disconnect.

verb

To cause (things or people) to be separate.

If the kids get too noisy, separate them for a few minutes.

verb

(intransitive) To divide itself into separate pieces or substances.

The sauce will separate if you don't keep stirring.

verb

(usually in the plural) Anything that is sold by itself, especially an article of clothing.

noun

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:

separate

Plural:

separates

Origin of separate

Middle English separaten from Latin sēparātus past participle of sēparāre sē- apart s(w)e- in Indo-European roots parāre to prepare perə-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin separatus, perfect passive participle of separare (“separate"), from sepire, saepire (“enclose, hedge in").

From Wiktionary

Separate definition

Other Word Forms

Noun

Origin of separate

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From Wiktionary

Separate Sentence Examples

Related articles

Words near separate in the Dictionary

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