GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Isolate (īˈsṓ‑lāt or  īsˈṓ‑lāt; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Isolated (īˈsṓ‑lāˌtĕd); p. pr. & vb. n. Isolating (īˈsṓ‑lāˌtĭng).] [It. isolato, p. p. of isolare to isolate, fr. isola island, L. insula. See 2d Isle, and cf. Insulate.]
   
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   1. To place in a detached situation; to place by itself or alone; to insulate; to separate from others; as, “to isolate an infected person from others; to isolate the troublemakers in a classroom”.
   
   [1913 Webster +PJC]
   
   Short isolated sentences were the mode in which ancient wisdom delighted to convey its precepts. Bp. Warburton.
   
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   2. (Elec.) To insulate. See Insulate.
   
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   3. (Chem.) To separate (a substance) from all foreign substances; to make pure; to obtain in a free state; as, “to isolate the desired product from a reaction mixture”.
   
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   4. (Microbiol.) To obtain a culture of a microorganism in pure form (from a complex mixture); as, “to isolate Eschericia coli from a patient's blood”.
   
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2.       
   Isolate (īˈsṓ‑lā́t or  īsˈṓ‑lātˌ), n. Something that has been isolated; as, “an isolate of a powerful antibiotic from a tropical plant; an isolate of tuberculosis bacillus from an infected patient”.
   
   [PJC]