
tr.v., -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates.
- To set apart or cut off from others.
- To place in quarantine.
- Chemistry. To separate (a substance) in pure form from a combined mixture.
- To render free of external influence; insulate.
- Microbiology. To separate (a pure strain) from a mixed bacterial or fungal culture.
- Psychology. To separate (experiences or memories) from the emotions relating to them.
- Electricity.
- To set apart (a component, circuit, or system) from a source of electricity.
- To insulate or shield.
Solitary; alone.
n. (-lĭt, -lāt')
- A person, thing, or group that has been isolated, as by geographic, ecologic, or social barriers.
- Biology. A population of bacteria or other cells that has been isolated.
- Linguistics. A language isolate.
[Back-formation from ISOLATED.]
isolator i'so·la'tor n.SYNONYMS isolate, insulate, seclude, segregate, sequester. These verbs mean to separate from others: a mountain that isolated the village from larger towns; insulated herself from the chaos surrounding her; a celebrity who was secluded from public scrutiny; segregated the infectious patients in a special ward; sequestering a jury during its deliberations.








