Isolate
/ˈaɪsəleɪt/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo set apart from others; to detach or separate so as to be alone.
/ˈaɪsəleɪt/
To set apart from others.
The researchers isolated the gene responsible for the disease.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to keep the germ from spreading - that's isolating someone. It means to keep someone or something away from everyone else. Like when you put a sick person in a special room so they don’t spread germs, that's isolating them.
👶 For kids: To keep something separate from other things.
More Examples
He tried to isolate himself from the noise.
The detective worked to isolate the suspect from the crime scene.
How It's Used
"The patient was isolated to prevent the spread of the disease."
"She felt isolated after moving to a new city."
"Scientists isolated the virus in the laboratory."
To locate or identify something separate, or to keep something apart.
/ˈaɪsəleɪt/
To place something in a separate location.
The engineer isolated the fault in the wiring.
💡 Simply: Think of trying to find a specific ingredient in a recipe. You have to separate it from all the others so you can focus on what makes it unique. Isolating something means separating it out to understand it better.
👶 For kids: To find something and put it somewhere else all by itself.
More Examples
Can you isolate the sound of the dog barking?
The chemist was working to isolate the key component of the mixture.
How It's Used
"They are trying to isolate the vibration coming from the machine."
"The device is designed to isolate the circuit from the main power supply."
From Italian isolato, past participle of isolare, from isola (“island”).
The word 'isolate' emerged in the 18th century, reflecting developments in scientific and social thought about separation and distinction.
Memory tip
Think of an island (isola in Italian), which is separated from the mainland.
Word Origin
"island"