isolator

i·so·late

 (ī′sə-lāt′)

tr.v. i·so·lat·ed, i·so·lat·ing, i·so·lates

1.

a. To cause to be alone or apart, as in being inaccessible or unable to move about: The police isolated the area until more help could arrive.

b. To place in quarantine.

c. To cause to become socially or politically unengaged or ostracized: an immigrant who was isolated by his poor language skills.

d. To render free of external influence; insulate: a system of government that isolated its citizens from foreign ideas.

2. To identify or distinguish as a separate entity or group: The study tried to isolate the effects of changing schools on student performance.

3.

a. Chemistry To separate (a substance) in pure form from a combined mixture.

b. Microbiology To separate (a pure strain of a microorganism or virus) from a mixed culture.

4. Psychology To separate (experiences or memories) from the emotions relating to them.

5. Electricity

a. To set apart (a component, circuit, or system) from a source of electricity.

b. To insulate or shield.

adj. (-lĭt, -lāt′)

Separated from others: an isolate population.

n. (-lĭt, -lāt′)

1. A person, thing, or group that has been isolated, as by geographic, ecologic, or social barriers.

2. Microbiology A population of microorganisms or viruses that has been isolated.

3. Linguistics A language isolate.

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[Back-formation from isolated.]

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i′so·la′tor n.

Synonyms: isolate, insulate, seclude, segregate, sequester
These verbs mean to separate from others: a mountain that isolated the village from larger towns; insulated herself from the chaos surrounding her; a celebrity who was secluded from public scrutiny; segregated the infectious patients in a special ward; sequestering a jury during its deliberations.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.