English Explanatory Dictionary

separate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To divide (a thing) into separate parts.
  2. To disunite from a group or mass; to disconnect.
  3. To cause (things or people) to be separate.
  4. To divide itself into separate pieces or substances.
  5. To set apart; to select from among others, as for a special use or service.
adj
  1. Apart from (the rest); not connected to or attached to (anything else).
  2. Not together (with); not united (to).
noun
  1. Anything that is sold by itself, especially articles of clothing such as blouses, skirts, jackets, and pants.
  2. A printing of an article from a periodical as its own distinct publication and distributed independently, often with different page numbers.

Pronunciation

/ˈsɛp.(ə.)ɹət/ /ˈsɛp.ɹət/ en-us-separate-adj.ogg /ˈsep.ɹət/ /ˈsɛp.əˌɹeɪt/ /ˈsɛpˌɹeɪt/ /ˈsɛp.ɚˌeɪt/ en-us-separate-verb.ogg /ˈsɛp.əˌɹæɪt/ /sɛp(ə)ˈreːʈ/

Word forms

separate separates separating separated seperate

Etymology

From Middle English separaten (“to separate”), from separat (“separated”) + -en, from Latin sēparātus, perfect passive participle of sēparō (“to separate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from sē- (“apart”) + parō (“prepare”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“produce, procure, bring forward, bring forth”). Displaced Middle English scheden, from Old English scēadan (whence English shed). Doublet of sever, also derived from the same Latin verb.

Synonyms

partition split becut decide discerp disintegrate dispart dissever divide divorce divvy up part piecemeal rescind section sever split up sunder differentiate disaggregate disassemble discriminate disjoin disunify disunite peel off pick off separate single out unjoin tear apart break down come apart fall apart earmark sepose allocate appropriate shelve assign dedicate detach designate preselect put aside secern secernate sequester set apart set aside detached discrete distinct disparate loose sundry unattached unannexed unassociated unconnected

Antonyms

annex combine coherent conjunct indistinct joined unified

Related words

separative separation asunder divide divisible disconnect disunite reduce split subtract

Derived words

electroseparate enantioseparate lift and separate reseparate separable separase separatability separatable separatee separately separate out separate the men from the boys separate the sheep from the goats separate the wheat from the chaff separatical separation separational separationism separationist separatism separatist separatory separature go their separate ways inseparate nonseparate semiseparate separate but equal separate cover separate estate separate maintenance separateness separate opinion separate peace separate school septel unseparate write as separate words

Translations

Afrikaans: geskei van Afrikaans: apart van Afrikaans: afgesonder van Armenian: առանձին Bashkir: нимәнән айырым Bulgarian: разделен Catalan: separat Czech: samostatný Czech: separátní Czech: oddělený Dutch: gescheiden van Finnish: erillinen Finnish: erillään French: séparé French: séparée Galician: separado German: getrennt German: separat Greek: διαχωρισμένος Italian: separato Italian: separata Korean: 별개의 Pashto: بېل Portuguese: separado Russian: разде́льный Scottish Gaelic: air leth (bho) Spanish: separado Swedish: skild Swedish: separat Swedish: åtskild Telugu: విడి Turkish: -den ayrı Ukrainian: розді́льний
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