isolate

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Isolated p. pr. & vb. n. Isolating ] [ 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 ]