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separate

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Definition of separate

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛp(ə)rət/
  • forming or viewed as a unit apart or by itself:this raises two separate issues he regards the study of literature as quite separate from life
  • not joined or touching physically:a bathroom and separate toilet
  • different; distinct:melt the white and plain chocolate in separate bowls

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛpəreɪt/
  • 1 [with object] cause to move or be apart:police were trying to separate two rioting mobs they were separated by the war
  • form a distinction or boundary between:only a footpath separated their garden from the shore six years separated the two brothers
  • [no object] become detached or disconnected; move apart:the second stage of the rocket failed to separate they separated at the corner, agreeing to meet within two hours
  • [no object] stop living together as a couple:after her parents separated she was brought up by her mother (as adjective separated)her parents are separated
  • US discharge or dismiss (someone) from service or employment: this year one million veterans will be separated from the service
  • 2divide into constituent or distinct elements: [no object]:the processed milk had separated into curds and whey [with object]:separate the eggs and beat the egg yolks the organ loft separating off the choir
  • [with object] extract or remove for use or rejection:the skins are separated from the juice before fermentation
  • [with object] distinguish between or from others; consider individually:we cannot separate his thinking from his activity his position separates him from those who might share his interests

noun

(separates /ˈsɛp(ə)rəts/)
  • 1individual items of clothing, such as skirts, jackets, or trousers, suitable for wearing in different combinations.
  • 2the self-contained, free-standing components of a sound-reproduction system.
  • 3portions into which a soil, sediment, etc. can be sorted according to particle size, mineral composition, or other criteria: analysis of mineral separates from six cordierite-bearing strata

Phrases

go one's separate ways

leave in a different direction from someone with whom one has just travelled or spent time: we had a superb lunch, lazing around until late afternoon, when we went our separate ways
end a romantic, professional, or other relationship: let’s say we agreed to go our separate ways

separate but equal

US historical racially segregated but ensuring equal opportunities to all races: the decision terminated the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that made racially segregated schools legal

separate the men from the boys

see man.

separate the sheep from the goats

divide people or things into superior and inferior groups.
[with biblical allusion to Matt. 25:33]

separate the wheat from the chaff

see chaff1.

Derivatives

separateness

noun

separative

Pronunciation: /sɛp(ə)rətɪv/
adjective

separator

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛpəreɪtə/
noun

separatory

Pronunciation: /-rət(ə)ri/
adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin separat- 'disjoined, divided', from the verb separare, from se- 'apart' + parare 'prepare'

Spelling help

Remember that separate is spelled with -par- in the middle.

Spelling tip

the rock split into two separate parts.

separate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of separate in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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Word of the day

enjambement

/ ɪnˈdʒam(b)m(ə)nt /
noun
(in verse) the continuation of a sentence without a pause …