Isolate

Isolate

Verb / Noun · /ˈaɪ.sə.leɪt/ (v), /ˈaɪ.sə.lɪt/ (n)

Definition

(Verb) to set apart from others; to cause to be alone; to separate a substance for study; (Noun) a person or organism isolated from others; a pure culture of a microorganism.

Origin

From Italian isolare (to isolate), from isola (island), from Latin insula (island). The concept of isolation derives directly from the metaphor of being made an island — surrounded on all sides and cut off.