separate
separate — adjective
1. Describes two or more things that are not connected, not joined, or kept apart f
Describes two or more things that are not connected, not joined, or kept apart from each other — for example, separate rooms in a house, or a separate bank account that one person alone controls.
The children each have their own bedroom in separate parts of the house.
collocation: separate parts / separate rooms
Shirin keeps her work files in a separate folder from her personal documents.
We agreed to sleep in separate beds after the argument.
A separate entrance for deliveries is located around the back of the building.
The two events happened on separate dates, so nobody had to choose between them.
- detached
specifically about physical buildings not joined to another
- independent
focuses on not being controlled or influenced by others
- distinct
emphasises clear differences in quality or identity
用法筆記
Often used before a noun to emphasize that two things are not shared: 'separate rooms', 'separate accounts'. Can also follow a linking verb: 'The kitchen is separate from the living room.'
常見錯誤
separate — verb
1. To split or cut something into smaller pieces, groups, or sections — or for some
To split or cut something into smaller pieces, groups, or sections — or for something to come apart this way on its own.
Otis used a knife to separate the orange into six even wedges.
transitive: separate + noun + into + parts
The road separates the old part of town from the new shopping district.
separate + noun + from + noun (acts as a barrier)
When you heat the butter, the milk solids separate from the clear fat.
Nora separated the laundry into three piles before washing anything.
The two halves of the board separated when Christopher dropped it on the floor.
文法句型
separate + noun phrase + into + noun phrase
separate (no object)
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is what gets divided. The pattern 'separate X into Y' shows the resulting parts. 'Separate X from Y' focuses on removing X away from the whole.
常見錯誤
2. When people or things that are near each other move to different locations, or w
When people or things that are near each other move to different locations, or when you cause them to go to separate spots.
The teacher separated the two boys after they kept whispering during class.
transitive: separate two people who are together
Camila and Ilan separated at the airport gate because their flights left from different terminals.
Security guards separated the crowd into two lines outside the concert hall.
The dogs separated as soon as the owner shouted at them.
After the film, the group separated outside and walked home in different directions.
文法句型
separate + noun phrase (people)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'separate + noun phrase (people)', meaning to cause them to stop being together. The intransitive use describes people parting ways naturally.
常見錯誤
3. To think of two items or people as not belonging in the same group, recognising
To think of two items or people as not belonging in the same group, recognising a clear difference between them.
It is important to separate your personal feelings from your professional decisions.
separate + noun + from + noun
Saira finds it hard to separate her work life from her family life.
Good readers can separate the main idea from the supporting details in a paragraph.
Tuan refused to separate the art from the artist's personal history.
The report separates the issues into two categories: urgent and long-term.
- distinguish
more formal; focuses on perceiving the difference
- differentiate
very formal; often used in academic writing
- tell apart
informal; used when the difference is not obvious
- confuse
mix up in one's mind
- lump together
treat different things as one group
文法句型
separate + noun + from + noun
常見錯誤
4. When a liquid mixture divides into different parts or layers that do not mix tog
When a liquid mixture divides into different parts or layers that do not mix together any more — for example, oil rising to the top of a salad dressing that has been sitting still.
If you leave vinaigrette sitting too long, the oil will separate from the vinegar.
intransitive: separate from [another liquid]
The egg whites separated from the yolks when Yasmin tapped the shell on the bowl.
Mateo noticed the cream had separated into thick cream on top and watery milk below.
When the sauce cools down, the butter may separate and float to the surface.
文法句型
liquid + separates
separate into + layers/parts
用法筆記
Intransitive only — the liquid does the separating by itself. Typical in cooking instructions and chemistry descriptions.
常見錯誤
5. When a married couple decides to stop living together and ends their relationshi
When a married couple decides to stop living together and ends their relationship, usually as a step towards divorce.
After twenty years of marriage, Jin and his wife decided to separate.
intransitive: a couple separates
Élise separated from her husband last year, but the divorce is not final yet.
separate from + person
The couple separated amicably and agreed to share custody of their two children.
Christopher and Camila separated for six months before deciding to get back together.
- reconcile
become friendly or married again after a separation
- stay together
continue the relationship
文法句型
couple + separates
用法筆記
Intransitive only. The subject is usually a married couple ('they separated') or one spouse ('she separated from her husband'). Not used transitively for this meaning — you do not 'separate someone' from their spouse.
常見錯誤
separate — noun
1. A copy of an article that is printed separately from the main journal or book wh
A copy of an article that is printed separately from the main journal or book where it first appeared, usually given to the author.
The professor ordered fifty separates of her latest journal article to share at the conference.
Librarians keep separates of key papers for students without access to the full journal.
formal register: separates (noun)
Each researcher received a separate of the report before the official publication date.
The graduate student asked the publisher for ten separates of her first published paper.
用法筆記
This sense is technical and mainly found in academic publishing contexts. The more common word today is 'offprint'.
2. A piece of clothing sold as an individual item, meant to be paired with differen
A piece of clothing sold as an individual item, meant to be paired with different garments to form various outfits.
The store sells separates like skirts, blouses, and jackets that you can mix and match.
collocation: mix and match separates
Nora prefers buying separates rather than suits because she likes to create her own combinations.
A good wardrobe has basic separates that go with almost anything else you own.
The shop assistant showed Shirin separates that worked for the office or a party.
- mix-and-match pieces
more descriptive everyday term
- suit
a set of matching jacket and trousers or skirt
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural ('separates'). More common in fashion retail and tailoring contexts than in everyday conversation.