isolate

isolate — verb

1. to take a particular substance, chemical, cell, or factor out from a mixture or

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to take a particular substance, chemical, cell, or factor out from a mixture or larger system so that it can be studied or used separately

Example

Dario's team was able to isolate the chemical compound from the plant leaves.

isolate + noun phrase + from + noun phrase for scientific extraction

The technician carefully isolated the DNA sample from the patient's blood.

Common collocations
  • isolate a compound
  • isolate DNA
  • isolate a gene
  • isolate a virus
  • isolate a variable
  • isolate from the mixture
Synonyms
  • extract

    focuses on pulling something out, often with physical effort or a process

  • separate out

    more general; does not imply scientific or careful study

  • purify

    removes all unwanted matter to obtain a pure form

Antonyms
  • combine

    to join substances together

  • mix

    to blend multiple things together

Grammar Patterns

isolate + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in passive voice, especially in formal scientific writing: 'The compound was isolated.' Almost always followed by 'from' to specify the original mixture or system.

Common Mistakes

The teacher isolated the students into groups.
The teacher separated the students into groups.
Isolate means to remove from a larger group, not to divide into smaller categories.
They isolated the chemical from chemical.
They isolated the chemical from the mixture.
Always specify what the substance is taken out of.

2. to place an individual (person or animal) that may be sick somewhere apart from

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to place an individual (person or animal) that may be sick somewhere apart from healthy ones, especially to stop illness from spreading

Example

The hospital staff isolated the patient to stop the infection from reaching others.

purpose clause: 'to stop the infection from reaching others'

When the dog showed signs of illness, the vet isolated it from the other animals.

Common collocations
  • isolate a patient
  • isolate a traveller
  • isolate animals
  • isolate from others
  • isolate from contact
Synonyms
  • quarantine

    more specific — officially enforced separation for a fixed period

  • separate

    less specific; does not imply a health-related reason

  • sequester

    more formal, often legal or official

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

isolate + noun phrase

isolate + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

The object is normally a living being — person or animal — not an object. Frequently passive: 'passengers were isolated.' The reason (disease, infection, symptoms) is often stated nearby but not grammatically required.

Common Mistakes

The doctor isolated the medicine from other drugs.
The doctor isolated the patient from other patients.
You isolate people or animals from others; for objects, use 'separate' or 'keep apart.'

3. to cause a person, group, country, or organisation to have little or no contact

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a person, group, country, or organisation to have little or no contact with others, often due to disagreements, policies, or geography

Example

International sanctions have isolated the country from most of its global trading partners.

passive: 'be isolated from' for political/economic isolation

Bullies may try to isolate a classmate by spreading false rumours about them.

Common collocations
  • isolate a country
  • isolate a group
  • isolate a community
  • feel isolated
  • isolate from the world
  • politically isolated
Synonyms
  • cut off

    more informal; suggests an abrupt or complete break in contact

  • seclude

    implies voluntary withdrawal rather than being forced apart

  • alienate

    focuses on the emotional sense of being left out

Antonyms
  • include

    to make someone part of a group

  • integrate

    to bring together into a unified whole

Grammar Patterns

isolate + noun phrase

isolate + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2 (QUARANTINE): this sense does not involve physical separation for health reasons. The separation is social, political, or organisational. Often used in passive voice: 'the group was isolated.'

Common Mistakes

The new law isolized the minority group.
The new law isolated the minority group.
'Isolized' is not a correct word; the past tense is 'isolated.'

4. to exercise or stretch a single muscle, joint, or closely related group of muscl

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to exercise or stretch a single muscle, joint, or closely related group of muscles on its own, without involving other parts of the body

Example

This gym machine helps you isolate your shoulder muscles without straining your back.

collocation: 'isolate + body part (muscle/joint)' in fitness context

The trainer showed Yael how to isolate her biceps during each repetition of the curl.

Common collocations
  • isolate a muscle
  • isolate a joint
  • isolate a muscle group
  • isolate the biceps
Synonyms
  • work in isolation

    phrase used in fitness: 'work the muscle in isolation'

  • target

    less precise: 'target your biceps' can mean several exercises

Grammar Patterns

isolate + noun phrase

Usage Note

Domain-specific to fitness training, physiotherapy, and sports science. The object is always a body part — a named muscle, joint, or muscle group. This sense is rare in general conversation.

isolate — noun

Word family

  • isolated
    adjectiveB2
  • isolation
    nounB2
  • isolating
    adjectiveC1
  • isolationism
    nounC1
  • isolationist
    nounC1
  • isolator
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Isolate and separate both mean to set something apart, but isolate often implies keeping the thing apart for close examination or study — you isolate a virus to identify it. Separate simply means to divide or move apart: you separate egg whites from the yolk. Extract suggests pulling something out from a mixture, typically with some effort or a specific technique, like extracting juice from fruit. Purify goes a step further — it means removing all unwanted substances to obtain a pure form, such as purifying water or gold. In a lab, you might isolate a compound, then purify it to remove contaminants. In everyday language, separate is the broadest and most neutral of the four.

isolate ↗separate ↗extract ↗purify

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • isolate from
  • isolate oneself
  • feel isolated
  • isolate a variable

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

The modern English word 'isolate' was formed in the early 1800s from 'isolated', which came from French 'isoler' (to make an island), based on Italian 'isolato' (detached, situated on an island), from Latin 'insula' meaning 'island'. The idea of being 'made into an island' evolved into the general sense of being separated or set apart. The scientific meaning — separating a substance or organism for study — emerged in the 19th century as chemistry and microbiology developed.