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Definition of separate adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

separate

adjective
 OPAL W
 
/ˈseprət/
 
/ˈseprət/
Word Family
  • separate adjective verb
  • separated adjective
  • separately adverb
  • separation noun
  • separable adjective (≠ inseparable)
Idioms
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  1.  
     forming a unit by itself; not joined to something else
    • They have begun to sleep in separate rooms.
    • separate from somebody/something Raw meat must be kept separate from cooked meat.
    • The school is housed in two separate buildings.
    • Write a list of names on a separate piece of paper.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • remain
    • …
    adverb
    • somewhat
    • very
    • essentially
    • …
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • go your separate ways
    See full entry
  2.  
     [usually before noun] different; not connected
    • a separate incident/issue
    • The companies now exist as two separate entities.
    • separate from something I try to keep my private life separate from my work.
    • This is a completely separate matter.
    • It happened on three separate occasions.
    • Their ultimate political goal is the creation of a separate state.
    • For the past three years they have been leading totally separate lives.
    • The two groups are essentially separate and independent.
    • to merge the two previously separate businesses
    • species from widely separate parts of the world
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • remain
    • …
    adverb
    • somewhat
    • very
    • essentially
    • …
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • go your separate ways
    See full entry
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin separat- ‘disjoined, divided’, from the verb separare, from se- ‘apart’ + parare ‘prepare’.
Idioms
go your separate ways
  1. to end a relationship with somebody
    • When the business was sold they went their separate ways.
    • They decided to go their separate ways after being together for five years.
    • When we finished school, we all went our separate ways.
  2. to go in a different direction from somebody you have been travelling with
under separate cover
  1. (business) in a separate envelope
    • The information you requested is being forwarded to you under separate cover.
See separate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee separate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: separate

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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