Separation
/ˌsepəˈreɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act or result of moving people or things apart.
Extra definitions
nounThe state of being kept apart.
nounA division between things.
nounThe act of disuniting two or more things, or the condition of being separated.
Sentence Examples
The separation of oil and water is visible.
They agreed to a temporary separation.
A wall creates separation.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
None
Word Origin & History
Attested in the 15th Century C.E.; from Middle English separacioun, from Old French separacion, from Latin separatio, separationem. Morphologically separate + -ion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
“We were a band of brothers, and never dearer to each other than now. The thought which gave us the most pain, was the probable separation which would now take place, in case we were sold off to the far south, as we were likely to be.”
— 1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 19, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York; Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], →OCLC:
“[…] my longing for her was undiminished despite our months of near-complete separation.”
— 2007, Mohsin Hamid, chapter 10, in The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Orlando: Harcourt, page 141:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of oil and water is visible.