Separate Meaning and Definition
Separate
Pronunciation
/səˈpærət/
Part of Speech
Adjective or Noun
Definition
A separate unit or item is one that is distinct, individual, or independent from others, often with its own unique characteristics or functions.
Examples
1. “The company’s separate department handles international sales and marketing.”
2. “She kept her separate bank account for her emergency fund.”
Synonyms
1. Distinct
2. Individual
3. Independent
Antonyms
1. Unified
2. Combined
3. Merged
Etymology
The word “separate” comes from the Old French “separer,” which is derived from the Latin “separare,” meaning “to divide or separate.” Over time, the meaning of the word has expanded to encompass various contexts, including physical, emotional, and conceptual separation.
Usage Notes
Use “separate” to describe something that is distinct or individual, such as a separate room or a separate account. In contrast, use “distinct” to emphasize the uniqueness or difference between two or more things.
When using “separate” as a noun, it refers to a distinct or individual unit, such as a separate entity or a separate part of a whole.
Cultural References
In popular culture, the idea of being “separate” is often explored in science fiction, particularly in the Star Trek franchise, where characters may inhabit separate dimensions or timelines.
The concept of “separate” is also explored in literature, such as in the book “The separation” by Ann Weisgarber.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Some common idiomatic expressions that include the word “separate” are:
1. “Separate the wheat from the chaff” (to distinguish between what is valuable and what is worthless)
2. “Separate the signal from the noise” (to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information)
Collocations
Some common collocations of the word “separate” include:
1. Separate account
2. Separate department
3. Separate entity
4. Separate section
Frequency of Use
The word “separate” is commonly used in modern language, particularly in business, finance, and everyday conversation.
According to corpus data, the word “separate” appears in about 1.5% of all written texts.
Common Misspellings
Some common misspellings of the word “separate” include:
1. Separite
2. Seperate
3. Seperate