Separate: meaning, definitions and examples

General use when things or people need to be kept apart. Common in everyday language and neutral in tone.

• We need to separate the recyclables from the trash.
• They decided to separate their finances.

Usually involves cutting off a connection or stopping communication, often technical or electrical.

• Make sure to disconnect the power supply before servicing the machine.
• Please disconnect the call if you are not getting through.

Indicates splitting into parts or portions, often used in mathematics or when discussing sharing tasks.

• Let's divide the cake into eight equal parts.
• They decided to divide the workload equally.

Used when something is being removed from a larger whole, often physical objects.

• Please detach the coupon before handing it over.
• The buttons on this shirt can easily be detached.

Used when something is being broken into parts, often implying a clean break or specific dividing line. Informal and often used in personal contexts.

• They decided to split the bill at the restaurant.
• The company plans to split into two separate entities.

Employed in contexts involving enforced separation, often based on race, gender, or other distinguishing factors. Has a negative connotation.

• The policy aimed to segregate students based on academic ability.
• Historically, many places were segregated by race.

Used when talking about keeping things apart or not together.

• We need to keep the documents in separate folders.
• The two countries are separate entities.

Used when talking about something clearly different and unmistakable.

• There are three distinct categories of this species.
• She had a distinct accent from the local population.

Used when talking about things that are not the same.

• My shoes are different sizes.
• This book is very different from the one I read last week.

Used when talking about a single person or thing.

• Each individual has unique qualities.
• We need to consider the individual needs of each child.

Used when talking about something that is alone or far away from everything else, often with a negative connotation.

• The house is in an isolated location.
• He felt isolated from his friends after moving to a new city.

Used when talking about things that are not linked or related, often implying a lack of relationship or relevance.

• These two problems are unconnected.
• The incidents seem unconnected at first glance.

Use 'separate' to describe the action of dividing or keeping things apart from each other.

• 1
• Please separate the recyclables from the trash
• 2
• The teacher asked them to separate into small groups for the project

Use 'intersection point' to describe the specific location where two or more lines, roads, or paths cross each other.

• 1
• The intersection point of the two highways is often very busy
• 2
• At the intersection point, the traffic light was malfunctioning

Use 'self-intersection point' to describe a point where a single curve or line intersects with itself.

• 1
• The self-intersection point of the figure-eight shape is very interesting to study in mathematics
• 2
• The artist used a self-intersection point to create a complex design