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separate off
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separation of powers
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separate

sep·a·rate [ séppərət ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. apart: not touching or connected, not together, or not in the same place
They slept in separate rooms.

2. unrelated: distinct from or unrelated to something else
treated it as a separate issue

3. different: not shared with somebody or something else
offers an apartment with a separate entrance



verb  (past and past participle sep·a·rat·ed, present participle sep·a·rat·ing, 3rd person present singular sep·a·rates)
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb move or keep something apart: to move two or more people or things away from each other, or prevent people or things from coming into contact with each other
Somehow we got separated in the crowd.

2. transitive verb be between things: to stand or lie between one person or thing and another

3. intransitive verb come apart: to come apart or stop being attached or connected

4. transitive verb distinguish people or things: to be the factor that makes two people or things different from one another
His ready wit separated him from his classmates.

5. intransitive verb part company: to leave one another and go off in different directions
The group separated soon after lunch.

6. intransitive verb cease living as couple: to stop living together as a couple

7. transitive verb categorize somebody or something: to put somebody or something into different categories or groups

8. transitive verb show how things differ: to see or show that two or more things are different or not
Try to separate the issues and establish priorities.

9. transitive and intransitive verb divide: to split something into component parts, or be split into component parts

10. transitive and intransitive verb make or become independent: to leave a larger group and become independent, or cause part of a larger group to leave and form an independent unit

11. transitive verb release or fire somebody: to dismiss somebody from a job, or release somebody from military service



plural noun sep·a·rates [ séppərətsséppərət ] 
Definition:
 
dress individual items of clothing: articles of women's clothing that can be bought as individual items and worn in various combinations, e.g. blouses, skirts, jackets, and pants

[15th century. < Latin separat-, past participle of separare, literally "arrange apart" < parare "make ready"]

sep·a·rate·ly [ séppərətlee ] adverb
sep·a·rate·ness [ séppərətnəss ] noun
sep·a·ra·tor [ séppə ràytər ] noun
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