English Reference

Word

separator

Phoneticssep·a·ra·tor

US/ˈsɛpəˌɹeɪtɝ/

UK/sˈɛpəɹˌeɪtɐ/

Definition

n. a person or thing that keeps two or more things apart. You use this to describe a physical object like a line or a divider, or a person who stops a conversation.

n. a person or object that keeps two or more things apart or prevents them from mixing. Often used in technical contexts to describe a physical or logical boundary.

Examples

“The line on the road is a good separator.”

“The host acted as a polite separator, ensuring that the two groups of guests did not get too close.”

“In chemical engineering, a separator is a device used to divide a mixture into its individual components based on physical properties like density or volatility.”

Examples

simple

“The line on the road is a good separator.”

contextual

“The host acted as a polite separator, ensuring that the two groups of guests did not get too close.”

complex

“In chemical engineering, a separator is a device used to divide a mixture into its individual components based on physical properties like density or volatility.”

Real-World Examples

“For example, the Pinhalense LSC Coffee Washer and Separator separates ripe and over-ripe cherries.”
Perfect Daily Grind · 22 Oct 2018

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sēparātor.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference