Separate

Pronunciation

• (Adjective and noun)
• enPR: sÄ•'pÉ™rÉ™t, IPA: /ˈsÉ›p(É™)ɹət/
• (Verbs)
• enPR: sÄ•'pÉ™rāt, IPA: /ˈsÉ›pəɹeɪt/

Origin

From Latin separatus, perfect passive participle of separare ("to separate"), from -("apart") + parō("prepare").

Full definition of separate

Adjective

1. Apart from (the rest); not connected to or attached to (anything else).This chair can be disassembled into five separate pieces.
2. (followed by “from”) Not together (with); not united (to).I try to keep my personal life separate from work.

Verb

1. (transitive) To divide (a thing) into separate parts.
   Separate the articles from the headings.
2. To disunite something from one thing; To disconnect.
• DrydenFrom the fine gold I separate the alloy.
• Bible, Romans viii. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
3. (transitive) To cause (things or people) to be separate.
• 2013-06-07, David Simpson, Fantasy of navigation, It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in the basket a balloon: …;  …; or perhaps to muse on the irrelevance of the borders that separate nation states and keep people from understanding their shared environment.
4. If the kids get too noisy, separate them for a few minutes.
5. (intransitive) To divide itself into separate pieces or substances.
   The sauce will separate if you don't keep stirring.
6. (obsolete) To set apart; to select from among others, as for a special use or service.
• Bible, Acts xiii. 2Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Derived terms

Antonyms

• annex
• combine

Noun

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

Usage notes

The spelling is separate. *Seperate is a common misspelling.

Anagrams

• asperate