isolate
B2Formal, Academic, Technical, Everyday (in specific contexts like health)
Definition
Meaning
To separate something or someone from others; to keep apart.
To identify or extract a single component or individual from a complex mixture or group, often for study or to prevent interaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb. As an adjective, "isolated" is far more common. In scientific contexts, it often implies a deliberate action to obtain a pure sample or to prevent contagion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences. Spelling is the same. In medical/public health contexts, both use it identically. Some minor differences in prepositions may occur (e.g., 'isolate from' is universal, but US English might slightly prefer 'isolate' as a noun in lab contexts).
Connotations
Largely identical. Conveys separation, often with a sense of intentionality or necessity, which can be neutral (scientific), protective (medical), or negative (social exclusion).
Frequency
Frequency is very similar. Slight increase in technical usage in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
isolate somebody/something (from somebody/something)isolate something (as something)be isolated (by somebody/something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to isolate oneself from the world”
- “to live in isolation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To isolate a problem in a production line; to isolate a department during restructuring.
Academic
To isolate a variable in an experiment; to isolate a specific strain of bacteria.
Everyday
I had to isolate after testing positive for COVID. The village is isolated in the mountains.
Technical
Chemists isolate compounds. Network engineers isolate a faulty server from the main system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hospital will isolate infectious patients in a separate wing.
- Researchers aim to isolate the gene responsible for the trait.
- He chose to isolate himself from the family dispute.
American English
- The CDC recommends you isolate if you have symptoms.
- They managed to isolate the software bug causing the crash.
- The policy could isolate the country from its allies.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form for 'isolate'. 'In an isolated manner' is used instead.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form for 'isolate'. 'Separately' is used.)
adjective
British English
- The isolated cottage had no mobile signal. (Note: 'isolated' is standard; 'isolate' as an adjective is very rare.)
American English
- An isolate case of the disease was reported. (Note: 'isolated' is far more common; 'isolate' as an adjective is technical/jargon.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sick child was isolated from the other children.
- My house is very isolated.
- Scientists worked hard to isolate the new virus.
- Feeling isolated in a new city is common.
- The government's stance threatened to isolate it diplomatically.
- You can isolate the audio track from the video file using this software.
- The study sought to isolate the socioeconomic factors affecting educational outcomes.
- The compound was first isolated in its pure form in 1928.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ISLAND (sounds like 'I-solate') - an island is isolated from the mainland.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEPARATION IS PHYSICAL DISTANCE / CREATING A BARRIER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'insulate' (утеплять). 'Isolate' is изолировать, but in social contexts, it's closer to 'отделять' or 'отгораживать'. The noun 'изолента' is insulating tape, not 'isolation tape'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'insulate' instead of 'isolate' for non-physical contexts. Incorrect preposition: 'isolate against' (use 'isolate from'). Using 'isolate' as a common adjective (should be 'isolated').
Practice
Quiz
In a chemistry lab, what does it mean to 'isolate' a substance?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Isolate' means to separate or set apart. 'Insulate' means to protect or shield from heat, electricity, sound, or outside influence (e.g., insulate a house). You isolate a patient, but you insulate a wire.
Not inherently. It can be neutral or positive in scientific/medical contexts (e.g., isolating a vaccine component). It becomes negative in social contexts implying loneliness or forced exclusion.
The main noun is 'isolation'. In specialised scientific contexts, 'isolate' can also be a noun meaning a pure culture or sample (e.g., 'a bacterial isolate').
Yes, very commonly. For example: 'After the argument, she isolated herself from the group.'