separateseparate1adjective1away from something; not together or not joined: The cup broke into three separate pieces. In my school, the older children are separate from the younger ones.2different; not the same: We stayed in separate rooms in the same hotel.▶ separatelyadverb: Shall we pay separately or together?separateseparateseparatesseparatedseparating2verb (separates, separating, separated)1to stop being togethersame meaningsplit up: My parents separated when I was a baby.2to divide people or things; to keep people or things away from each othersame meaningsplit: The teacher separated the class into two groups.3to be between two things: The Mediterranean separates Europe and Africa.▶ separationseparationseparationsnoun: The separation from my family and friends made me very unhappy.