SEPARATE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does separate mean? 

• SEPARATE (noun)
  The noun SEPARATE has 2 senses:

1. a separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication

2. a garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments

  Familiarity information: SEPARATE used as a noun is rare.

• SEPARATE (adjective)
  The adjective SEPARATE has 4 senses:

1. independent; not united or joint

2. standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything

3. separated according to race, sex, class, or religion

4. have the connection undone; having become separate

  Familiarity information: SEPARATE used as an adjective is uncommon.

• SEPARATE (verb)
  The verb SEPARATE has 13 senses:

1. act as a barrier between; stand between

2. force, take, or pull apart

3. mark as different

4. separate into parts or portions

5. divide into components or constituents

6. arrange or order by classes or categories

7. make a division or separation

8. discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

9. go one's own way; move apart

10. become separated into pieces or fragments

11. treat differently on the basis of sex or race

12. come apart

13. divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork

  Familiarity information: SEPARATE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SEPARATE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

offprint; reprint; separate

Hypernyms ("separate" is a kind of...):

article (nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("separate" is a kind of...):

garment (an article of clothing)

• SEPARATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Independent; not united or joint

Context example:

formed a separate church

Similar:

apart (having characteristics not shared by others)

asunder (widely separated especially in space)

detached; isolated; separated; set-apart (being or feeling set or kept apart from others)

discrete; distinct (constituting a separate entity or part)

disjoint (having no elements in common)

disjunct; isolated (marked by separation of or from usually contiguous elements)

isolable (capable of being isolated or disjoined)

unaccompanied ((of a state or an event) taking place without something specified occurring at the same time)

Also:

individual; single (being or characteristic of a single thing or person)

independent (free from external control and constraint)

segregated; unintegrated (separated or isolated from others or a main group)

other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)

unshared (not shared)

divided (separated into parts or pieces)

Attribute:

separation (the state of lacking unity)

Antonym:

joint (united or combined)

Derivation:

separateness (the state of being several and distinct)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything

Synonyms:

freestanding; separate

Context example:

a house with a separate garage

Similar:

detached (used of buildings; standing apart from others)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Separated according to race, sex, class, or religion

Context example:

girls and boys in separate classes

Similar:

segregated; unintegrated (separated or isolated from others or a main group)

Derivation:

separateness (the quality of being not alike; being distinct or different from that otherwise experienced or known)

separateness (the state of being several and distinct)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have the connection undone; having become separate

Synonyms:

disjoined; separate

Similar:

unconnected (not joined or linked together)

• SEPARATE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act as a barrier between; stand between

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

divide; separate

Context example:

The mountain range divides the two countries

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Force, take, or pull apart

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

disunite; divide; part; separate

Context example:

Moses parted the Red Sea

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

divide; part; separate (come apart)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

compartmentalise; compartmentalize; cut up (separate into isolated compartments or categories)

polarise; polarize (cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions)

isolate; keep apart; sequester; sequestrate; set apart (set apart from others)

disjoin; disjoint (make disjoint, separated, or disconnected; undo the joining of)

disarticulate; disjoint (separate at the joints)

disconnect (make disconnected, disjoin or unfasten)

cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)

tear (to separate or be separated by force)

joint (separate (meat) at the joint)

gin (separate the seeds from (cotton) with a cotton gin)

break (separate from a clinch, in boxing)

break up; sever (set or keep apart)

bust; rupture; snap; tear (separate or cause to separate abruptly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

separation (the act of dividing or disconnecting)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mark as different

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

differentiate; distinguish; secern; secernate; separate; severalise; severalize; tell; tell apart

Context example:

We distinguish several kinds of maple

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

identify; place (recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something)

"Separate" entails doing...:

compare (examine and note the similarities or differences of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

know (be able to distinguish, recognize as being different)

discriminate; know apart (recognize or perceive the difference)

label (distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions)

label (distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom)

sex (tell the sex (of young chickens))

individualise; individualize (make or mark or treat as individual)

contrast (put in opposition to show or emphasize differences)

have the distinction (be distinguished from others of a similar type by virtue of a notable characteristic)

severalise; severalize (distinguish or separate)

contradistinguish (distinguish by contrasting qualities)

decouple; dissociate (regard as unconnected)

demarcate (separate clearly, as if by boundaries)

discriminate; separate; single out (treat differently on the basis of sex or race)

stratify (divide society into social classes or castes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Separate into parts or portions

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

carve up; dissever; divide; separate; split; split up

Context example:

The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

subdivide (divide into smaller and smaller pieces)

format; initialise; initialize (divide (a disk) into marked sectors so that it may store data)

sectionalise; sectionalize (divide into sections, especially into geographic sections)

triangulate (divide into triangles or give a triangular form to)

unitise; unitize (divide (bulk material) and process as units)

lot (divide into lots, as of land, for example)

parcel (divide into parts)

sliver; splinter (divide into slivers or splinters)

paragraph (divide into paragraphs, as of text)

canton (divide into cantons, of a country)

Balkanise; Balkanize (divide a territory into small, hostile states)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Divide into components or constituents

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Separate the wheat from the chaff

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

break down; break up; decompose (separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts)

dialyse; dialyze (separate by dialysis)

peptise; peptize (disperse in a medium into a colloidal state)

macerate (separate into constituents by soaking)

card; tease (separate the fibers of)

filter; filter out; filtrate; separate out; strain (remove by passing through a filter)

extract (separate (a metal) from an ore)

fractionate (obtain by a fractional process)

fractionate (separate into constituents or fractions containing concentrated constituents)

sieve; sift; strain (separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements)

wash (separate dirt or gravel from (precious minerals))

disperse (separate (light) into spectral rays)

avulse (separate by avulsion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

separation (sorting one thing from others)

separator (an apparatus that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a suspension)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Arrange or order by classes or categories

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

assort; class; classify; separate; sort; sort out

Context example:

How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

categorise; categorize (place into or assign to a category)

"Separate" entails doing...:

compare (examine and note the similarities or differences of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

unitise; unitize (separate or classify into units)

catalog; catalogue (make an itemized list or catalog of; classify)

isolate (separate (experiences) from the emotions relating to them)

refer (think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another)

reclassify (classify anew, change the previous classification)

size (sort according to size)

dichotomise; dichotomize (divide into two opposing groups or kinds)

pigeonhole; stamp; stereotype (treat or classify according to a mental stereotype)

group (arrange into a group or groups)

grade (determine the grade of or assign a grade to)

count; number (put into a group)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 7

Meaning:

Make a division or separation

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

divide; separate

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

partition; zone (separate or apportion into sections)

break (destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments)

break up; dispel; disperse; dissipate; scatter (to cause to separate and go in different directions)

rail; rail off (separate with a railing)

detach (separate (a small unit) from a larger, especially for a special assignment)

close off; shut off (isolate or separate)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

separative (serving to separate or divide into parts)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

break; break up; part; separate; split; split up

Context example:

My friend and I split up

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

give the axe; give the bounce; give the gate (terminate a relationship abruptly)

break apart; disunify (break up or separate)

disassociate; disjoint; dissociate; disunite; divorce (part; cease or break association with)

break with (end a relationship)

divorce; split up (get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage)

break away; secede; splinter (withdraw from an organization or communion)

break; break away (interrupt a continued activity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

separation ((law) the cessation of cohabitation of man and wife (either by mutual agreement or under a court order))

separatist (an advocate of secession or separation from a larger group (such as an established church or a national union))

Sense 9

Meaning:

Go one's own way; move apart

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

part; separate; split

Context example:

The friends separated after the party

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out (move away from each other)

break up (come apart)

diffract (undergo diffraction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

separation (the social act of separating or parting company)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Become separated into pieces or fragments

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break; come apart; fall apart; separate; split up

Context example:

The freshly baked loaf fell apart

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Verb group:

break (destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

break open; burst; split (come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure)

puncture (be pierced or punctured)

burst; bust (break open or apart suddenly and forcefully)

smash (break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow)

ladder; run (come unraveled or undone as if by snagging)

crack; snap (break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension)

break up; fragment; fragmentise; fragmentize (break or cause to break into pieces)

crush (become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 11

Meaning:

Treat differently on the basis of sex or race

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

discriminate; separate; single out

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

differentiate; distinguish; secern; secernate; separate; severalise; severalize; tell; tell apart (mark as different)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

insulate; isolate (place or set apart)

hive off (remove from a group and make separate)

segregate (separate by race or religion; practice a policy of racial segregation)

redline (discriminate in selling or renting housing in certain areas of a neighborhood)

disadvantage; disfavor; disfavour (put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

separative (serving to separate or divide into parts)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Come apart

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

divide; part; separate

Context example:

The two pieces that we had glued separated

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

subdivide (form into subdivisions)

polarise; polarize (become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation)

break up; calve (release ice)

break away; break off; chip; chip off; come off (break off (a piece from a whole))

disjoin; disjoint (become separated, disconnected or disjoint)

come away; come off; detach (come to be detached)

segregate (divide from the main body or mass and collect)

segment (divide or split up)

reduce (undergo meiosis)

section; segment (divide into segments)

partition; partition off (divide into parts, pieces, or sections)

discerp; dismember; take apart (divide into pieces)

gerrymander (divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

separation (coming apart)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

branch; fork; furcate; ramify; separate

Context example:

The road forks

Hypernyms (to "separate" is one way to...):

diverge (move or draw apart)

Verb group:

branch; ramify (grow and send out branches or branch-like structures)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "separate"):

arborise; arborize (branch out like trees)

twig (branch out in a twiglike manner)

bifurcate (divide into two branches)

trifurcate (divide into three)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

The Australian team describes the membrane technology that separates hydrogen from other gases as a “watershed moment for energy.”

(Cars Powered by New Fuel Type Tested in Australia, VOA)

Less than half the distance between Earth and moon separates Rosetta from its destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

(Rosetta closing in on comet, NASA)

It’s really hard to separate the effects of individual components.

(Can Chocolate Really Be Good for You?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

“What do I hear you say! I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me!”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Four years ago, a separate study published in Nature said sweeteners have an equally direct impact on causing diabetes as sugar.

(Artificial Sweeteners Can Still Lead to Obesity, Diabetes, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Perhaps the two parts of comet 67P/C-G will one day separate completely.

(Rosetta Comet May Be a Contact Binary, NASA)

The NMDA ion channel receptor is made up of 4 separate subunits, with 2 each of 2 different subunits.

(Structure of receptor involved in brain disorders, NIH)

A thick layer of mucus separates gut bacteria from the lining of the intestine.

(Food Additives Alter Gut Microbes, Cause Diseases in Mice, NIH)

The scientists identified two distinct subpopulations of neurons in the BNST that connect to separate populations of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus.

(Researchers identify key brain circuits for reward-seeking and avoidance behavior, National Institutes of Health)

Holmes and the Inspector led us round it until we came to the side gate, which is separated by a stretch of garden from the hedge which lines the road.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)