separate separate /ˈsɛpɝɪt, ˈsɛprət/

adjective

1. () Independent; not united or joint  ( separate )
   independent; not united or joint
    A problem consisting of two separate issues
   a problem consisting of two separate issues
    They went their separate ways
   they went their separate ways
    Formed a separate church
   formed a separate church
   
2. () Standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything  ( freestanding , separate )
   standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything
    A freestanding bell tower
   a freestanding bell tower
    A house with a separate garage
   a house with a separate garage
   
3. Have the connection undone; having become separate  ( disjoined , separate )
   have the connection undone; having become separate
   
4. Separated according to race, sex, class, or religion  ( separate )
   separated according to race, sex, class, or religion
    Separate but equal
   separate but equal
    Girls and boys in separate classes
   girls and boys in separate classes
   

noun

1. A garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments  ( separate )
   a garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments
    She bought a stylish separate blouse that could be paired with various skirts.
   She bought a stylish separate blouse that could be paired with various skirts.
   
   
2. A separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication  ( offprint , reprint , separate )
   a separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication
   

verb

1. () Act as a barrier between; stand between  ( divide , separate )
   act as a barrier between; stand between
    The mountain range divides the two countries
   The mountain range divides the two countries
   
2. () Force, take, or pull apart  ( disunite , part , divide , separate )
   force, take, or pull apart
    He separated the fighting children
   He separated the fighting children
    Moses parted the Red Sea
   Moses parted the Red Sea
   
3. () Mark as different  ( secern , secernate , severalise [British] , differentiate , distinguish , separate , severalize , tell , tell apart )
   mark as different
    We distinguish several kinds of maple
   We distinguish several kinds of maple
   
4. () Separate into parts or portions  ( carve up , dissever , split up , divide , separate , split )
   separate into parts or portions
    Divide the cake into three equal parts
   divide the cake into three equal parts
    The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
   The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
   
5. () Arrange or order by classes or categories  ( assort , sort , class , classify , separate , sort out )
   arrange or order by classes or categories
    How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?
   How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?
   
6. () Divide into components or constituents  ( separate )
   divide into components or constituents
    Separate the wheat from the chaff
   Separate the wheat from the chaff
   
7. () Make a division or separation  ( divide , separate )
   make a division or separation
   
8. () Become separated into pieces or fragments  ( come apart , fall apart , split up , break , separate )
   become separated into pieces or fragments
    The figurine broke
   The figurine broke
    The freshly baked loaf fell apart
   The freshly baked loaf fell apart
   
9. () Go one's own way; move apart  ( separate , split , part )
   go one's own way; move apart
    The friends separated after the party
   The friends separated after the party
   
10. () Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways  ( break , split up , part , break up , separate , split )
    discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
     The business partners broke over a tax question
    The business partners broke over a tax question
     The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
    The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
     My friend and I split up
    My friend and I split up
    
11. Divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork  ( branch , fork , furcate , ramify , separate )
    divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork
     The road forks
    The road forks
    
12. Come apart  ( part , separate , divide )
    come apart
     The two pieces that we had glued separated
    The two pieces that we had glued separated
    
13. Treat differently on the basis of sex or race  ( separate , discriminate , single out )
    treat differently on the basis of sex or race