verb · neutral

isolate

/ˈaɪsəleɪt/I·so·late

Band 5-6speakingtask2

To separate something from others so that it stands alone or can be studied separately

Examples

Researchers isolated the variable to test its direct effect on behaviour.

During the outbreak, infected patients were isolated to prevent spread.

It's hard to isolate one cause for the decline in bee populations.

Band 8 sentence

To determine causality, the team isolated each variable under controlled laboratory conditions.

Collocations

  • isolate from
  • isolate the variable
  • become isolated

Word family

isolation nounisolated adjective

Common mistakes

use 'separate' every time instead of 'isolate'use 'isolate' when meaning to separate for study or control

translate as 'cô lập' alwaysdùng 'cách ly' khi nói về bệnh dịch, 'tách' hay 'tách ra' khi nói về phân tích dữ liệu

Say it for a higher band

5separate6separate7+isolate

Synonyms

separate

segregate

Easily confused

separate

The lab separated the two chemical samples to prevent contamination.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Sublist 7

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