What does "separate" mean?

1. (to move apart) to move things or people away from each other so they are no longer together. 2. (to stop living together) to stop living with your husband, wife, or partner. 3. (not connected) not joined to something else; existing by itself. 4. (clothing items) clothes that are sold individually rather than as a set, like a skirt and a blouse.

How do you use "separate"?

Often used with the preposition 'from'. Intransitive in this sense. Usually used in the plural form.

Is it correct to say "I need to seperate the laundry."?

No — say "I need to separate the laundry.". A common spelling error is using 'e' instead of 'a' in the middle; remember 'there is a rat in separate'.

separate

v. · adj. · n.

US //ˈsɛpɝˌeɪt// sep·a·rate

1 to move apart (v.)
A2 Elementary

to move things or people away from each other so they are no longer together.

to cause things or people to be apart; to disunite or disconnect a group or mass.

Example

The teacher had to separate the two students because they wouldn't stop talking.

Example

The police line was established to separate the protesters from the counter-protesters and prevent any physical confrontation.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'from'.
Pitfall

I need to seperate the laundry.

I need to separate the laundry.

A common spelling error is using 'e' instead of 'a' in the middle; remember 'there is a rat in separate'.
2 to stop living together (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to stop living with your husband, wife, or partner.

to cease living together as a married or cohabiting couple.

Example

My parents decided to separate last year, but they are still good friends.

Example

After years of trying to resolve their differences, the couple decided to separate legally before filing for a full divorce.

Usage

Intransitive in this sense.
- break up
- split up
- marry
- reconcile

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3 not connected (adj.)
A2 Elementary

not joined to something else; existing by itself.

existing as an independent entity; not shared or joined.

Example

The children sleep in separate rooms now that they are older.

Example

The researchers published their findings in three separate reports to ensure each experiment received detailed attention.

Teacher's tip

Note the pronunciation difference: the verb ends in /-eɪt/ while the adjective ends in /-ət/.
4 clothing items (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

clothes that are sold individually rather than as a set, like a skirt and a blouse.

individual articles of clothing, such as skirts, trousers, or jackets, designed to be worn in various combinations.

Example

She prefers buying separates so she can mix and match her work outfits.

Example

The boutique specialises in high-end separates, allowing customers to coordinate different sizes for jackets and trousers.

Usage

Usually used in the plural form.
- individual pieces

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

From Middle English separat, see -ate (“adjective-forming suffix”) and Etymology 1 for more.

Etymology 3

From a substantivization of the above adjective, see -ate (“noun-forming suffix”) and Etymology 1 for more.

Word family

Verbseparate
Nounseparation
Nounseparatism
Nounseparatist
Adverbseparately

Idioms2 entries