insulate
English
Etymology
From Latin īnsula (“island”) + -ate or from Late Latin īnsulātus (“made an island”); see insular. First attested in the 16th century. The general verb īnsulō (“insulate”) is attested only in New Latin and postdates the English term, but influence from an otherwise unattested Medieval Latin counterpart cannot be ruled out.[1]
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɪnsjʊleɪt/, /ˈɪnʃʊleɪt/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈɪnsəleɪt/
Audio (US) (file)
- Hyphenation: in‧su‧late
Verb
insulate (third-person singular simple present insulates, present participle insulating, simple past and past participle insulated)
- To separate, detach, or isolate.
- To separate a body or material from others, e.g. by non-conductors to prevent the transfer of electricity, heat, etc.
- Ceramic can be used to insulate power lines.
Synonyms
- isolate
Related terms
Terms etymologically related to insulate
- insular
- insulator
- insulation
- insulable
- insular
- isolation
- peninsula
Translations
to separate or detach
|
to separate so as to prevent a transfer
|
References
- “insulate, v.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
Further reading
- insulate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- insulate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
Anagrams
- alunites
Latin
Participle
īnsulāte
- vocative masculine singular of īnsulātus