from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Isolate \I"so*late\ ([imac]"s[-o]*l[=a]t or [imac]s"[-o]*l[=a]t;
277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Isolated}
([imac]"s[-o]*l[=a]`t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Isolating}
([imac]"s[-o]*l[=a]`t[i^]ng).] [It. isolato, p. p. of isolare
to isolate, fr. isola island, L. insula. See 2d {Isle}, and
cf. {Insulate}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To place in a detached situation; to place by itself or
alone; to insulate; to separate from others; as, to
isolate an infected person from others; to isolate the
troublemakers in a classroom.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Short isolated sentences were the mode in which
ancient wisdom delighted to convey its precepts.
--Bp.
Warburton.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Elec.) To insulate. See {Insulate}.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Chem.) To separate (a substance) from all foreign
substances; to make pure; to obtain in a free state; as,
to isolate the desired product from a reaction mixture.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
4. (Microbiol.) To obtain a culture of a microorganism in
pure form (from a complex mixture); as, to isolate
{Eschericia coli} from a patient's blood.
[PJC]