isolate
gb/ˈaɪsəlˌeɪt/ us/ˈaɪsəlˌeɪt/
B1
English
~ 3800
elszigetel, elkülönít, izolál, izolátum, izolát
VERB
B1
1
elszigetel
B2
elkülönít
B2
Usage pattern:
to isolate [someone/something] from [someone/something]
The lab worked quickly to isolate the infected animals.
A labor gyorsan dolgozott, hogy elkülönítse a fertőzött állatokat.
She felt the need to isolate herself from the noisy group.
Úgy érezte, el kell szigetelnie magát a zajos társaságtól.
Engineers managed to isolate the faulty component in the system.
The government decided to isolate the region to contain the outbreak.
Learner examples
The doctor will isolate the sick man.
Az orvos elkülöníti a beteg férfit.
I want to isolate my work from my home life.
El akarom különíteni a munkámat a magánéletemtől.
They isolate the problem before fixing it.
We isolate the dog so it does not bite.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'isolate' with 'insulate', which means to protect from heat, cold, or noise rather than to separate socially or physically.
Meaning
Separate from others
Collocations
isolate a patient
|isolate a problem
|isolate someone from society
|completely isolate
|physically isolate
Synonyms
separate (A more general term without the strong sense of complete detachment.)
|
quarantine (Used mostly in medical contexts for keeping someone away to prevent disease spread.)
Antonyms
integrate (Means to bring together into a group or system, opposite of separating.)
Themes
health
|safety
|social
|daily_life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To keep a person or thing away from other people or things.
To cause a person or thing to be alone, apart, or detached from others.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to isolate [substance/organism] from [source]
Scientists were able to isolate the virus from the blood samples.
A tudósoknak sikerült a vírust izolálni a vérmintákból.
The chemist isolated the compound for further study.
A vegyész izolálta a vegyületet további vizsgálatokhoz.
Researchers isolated stem cells from the tissue.
Learner examples
They can isolate the virus in the lab.
A laborban izolálni tudják a vírust.
The scientist will isolate the salt from water.
A tudós izolálja a sót a vízből.
We isolate DNA to study it.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the general social sense of 'isolate'; context often makes it clear that this is scientific.
Meaning
Extract a pure substance
Collocations
isolate bacteria
|isolate DNA
|isolate cells
|isolate a gene
Synonyms
extract (Focuses on removal, not necessarily purity.)
|
purify (Focuses on making something free from contamination rather than just separating it.)
Antonyms
combine (Means to mix things together, opposite of obtaining something pure.)
Themes
science
|medicine
|research
|technology
Definition
To take one substance or thing away from a mix so it is by itself.
In scientific or technical contexts, to obtain a substance, organism, or component in pure form, separated from all other substances.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
The laboratory tested several bacterial isolates for resistance.
A laboratórium több bakteriális izolátumot vizsgált rezisztencia szempontjából.
Each isolate was stored in a separate container.
Minden izolátumot külön edényben tároltak.
The researcher compared isolates from different regions.
Learner examples
The lab studied the virus isolate.
A labor vizsgálta a vírusizolátumot.
Each isolate is in a safe box.
Minden izolátum egy biztonságos dobozban van.
They keep the isolate away from people.
Meaning
Separated entity for study/safety
Collocations
a bacterial isolate
|clinical isolate
|genetic isolate
Synonyms
sample (A general term for a part taken for study; may not imply separation.)
Themes
science
|medicine
|health
Definition
A person, animal, or thing that is kept alone for study or safety.
A person, organism, or substance that has been separated from others, often for scientific study or safety reasons.
Grammar
Dictionary form
isolate
IPA
GB/ˈaɪsəlˌeɪt/
US/ˈaɪsəlˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
isol - ate (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (isol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: isolate
- Plural: isolates
Verb
- Base: isolate
- 3rd Person Singular: isolates
- Present Participle: isolating
- Past: isolated
Word family
Forms
isolates
noun
isolating
verb
isolated
verb
Core family
isolation
noun B1
Advanced or less common
isolator
noun
Expressions
feel isolated
1/fˈil ˈaɪsəlˌeɪtɪd/
fixed phrase
Feel alone or cut off socially
To feel lonely and apart from other people.
Examples
- After moving to a new city, she began to feel isolated.
- He felt isolated when his friends stopped talking to him.
self-isolate
1/sˈɛlf ˈaɪsəlˌeɪt/
fixed phrase
Stay apart due to illness risk
To keep yourself away from other people so you do not spread an illness.
Examples
- People with symptoms are asked to self-isolate for five days.
- She decided to self-isolate after testing positive.
in isolation
1/ˈɪn ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
on its own, without context
used to say that something is looked at or happens alone, without other things that are normally connected to it
Examples
- These figures look bad in isolation, but the overall picture is improving.
- In isolation, this decision seems strange, but it makes sense as part of the wider plan.
- The quote sounds harsh in isolation, but the full interview tells a different story.
in isolation
2/ˈɪn ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Separately from others
Not together with other things or people; alone.
Examples
- You can't judge this problem in isolation; you need the full context.
- The data should not be viewed in isolation.