separate

S1 W1

BrE /ˈsɛpəreɪt/ AmE /ˈsɛpəreɪt/

verb / adjective en → es

past separated pp separated ing separating

1 DIVIDE [transitive] A2

to divide something into parts or groups, or to put things in different places

dividir, separar

  • separate sth from/into/from

Collocations separate eggs · separate the good ones from the bad ones

  • Separate the white from the yolk.

    Separa la clara de la yema.

2 DISTANCE [transitive] B1

to put something or someone at a distance from others, especially to protect them

aislar, separar

  • separate sb/sth from/into/from

Collocations separate the children into groups · separate the sick person from the others

  • They separated the injured man from the crowd.

    Separaron al hombre herido de la multitud.

3 END RELATIONSHIP [intransitive] B1

to end a relationship, especially a marriage or romantic partnership

separarse, divorciarse

  • sb separates from sb
  • They decided to separate after 20 years of marriage.

    Decidieron separarse después de 20 años de matrimonio.

4 DISTINCT [intransitive] B1

to be different or not connected with something else

ser distinto, estar separado

  • sth is separate from sth
  • The kitchen is separate from the living room.

    La cocina está separada del salón.

5 DISTINCT [adjective] B1

not connected with something else; different and independent

distinto, independiente

  • sth is separate from sth
  • The company has a separate office in Mexico.

    La empresa tiene una oficina separada en México.

Phrasal verbs

separate out DIVIDE B1

separar, dividir

  • Separate the good apples from the bad ones.

    Separa las manzanas buenas de las malas.

separate into DIVIDE B1

dividir en

  • Separate the students into groups.

    Divide a los estudiantes en grupos.

Idioms

separate fact from fiction B2

distinguir la realidad de la ficción

  • It's hard to separate fact from fiction in this story.

    Es difícil distinguir la realidad de la ficción en esta historia.

separate the wheat from the chaff B2

distinguir lo bueno de lo malo

  • We need to separate the wheat from the chaff in this project.

    Necesitamos distinguir lo bueno de lo malo en este proyecto.

separate the sheep from the goats B2

distinguir a los buenos de los malos

  • The manager needs to separate the sheep from the goats in his team.

    El gerente necesita distinguir a los buenos de los malos en su equipo.