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separate

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verb British English pronunciation: separate /ˈsepəreɪt/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyseparate
he/she/itseparates
present participleseparating
past tenseseparated
past participleseparated
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [transitive] to keep people or things apart from each other

    The army was called in to help separate the warring factions.

    separate someone from someone:

    The child may be separated from his mother while she receives treatment.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
    1. a.
      [intransitive] to move apart and stop being connected to something
      separate from:

      As he pulled, the pipe separated from the wall and broke.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
  2. 2
    [transitive] if something separates two people or things, it exists between them so that they are kept apart
    separate something from something:

    A large river separates the north of the city from the south.

    be separated by something:

    Their garden is separated from the factory by a tall fence.

    They are separated by thousands of miles.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
  3. 3

    separate

     or

    separate out

     [intransitive/transitive] to divide something, or become divided, into different parts

    The two issues need to be separated to discuss them fairly.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
  4. 4
    [intransitive] to stop living with your husband, wife, or sexual partner

    Millie's parents separated when she was three.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
  5. 5

    separate

     or

    separate out

     [transitive] to be the quality or detail that makes someone or something different from others
    separate someone/something from someone/something:

    This political skill separates him from other ultra-conservative politicians.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate
    1. a.
      to be the difference between the winner and the others in a competition

      Only three points separated the top two teams.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of separate

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This is the British English definition of separate. View American English definition of separate.

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