Definition of: isolate

(ī′sə·lāt, is′ə-) v.t. ·lat·ed, ·lat·ing
1. To place in a detached or separate situation; set apart.
2. Electr. To insulate.
3. Chem. To obtain in a free or uncombined state, as an element or compound.
4. Med. To set apart from others, as a person with a communicable disease.
5. Bacteriol. To obtain a pure bacterial culture of (a specified disease or bacterium).
—noun
1. A definite constituent or factor of some natural phenomenon, or aspect of experience, set apart from the whole for purposes of study, experiment, and analysis.
2. Chem. A pure compound, as one derived from an essential oil. [Back formation of ISOLATED <Ital. isolato, pp. of isolare isolate <isola island <L insula island]
—i′so·la′tor noun