insulated
/ˈɪnsjuleɪtɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɪnsəlˌetəd] /ˈɪnsəleɪtɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈɪn.sjə.leɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɪnsəlˌetəd] /ˈɪn.sə.leɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɪnsəlˌetəd] /ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt/ (ame, mw)
insulated — adjective
- insulatedpositive
- more insulatedcomparative
- most insulatedsuperlative
1. covered or surrounded by a layer of material that keeps heat, cold, sound, or el
covered or surrounded by a layer of material that keeps heat, cold, sound, or electricity inside or outside — for example, insulated walls keep a house warm in winter and cool in summer.
The walls of Ilan's old house are insulated with thick layers of mineral wool.
insulated with [material]
Bao wore an insulated jacket during the mountain hike to stay warm in the freezing wind.
The old electrical cables were not properly insulated and caused a short circuit.
Our attic is well insulated, so the upstairs rooms stay cool even in the summer heat.
The double-glazed windows are highly insulated against noise from the busy street outside.
- exposed
not covered or protected; open to the elements
常見錯誤
2. kept safe and away from unpleasant or harmful events, worries, or difficulties t
kept safe and away from unpleasant or harmful events, worries, or difficulties that affect other people.
Growing up in a small village, Devika felt insulated from the stress and noise of big-city life.
insulated from [unpleasant situation]
The wealthy family lived a highly insulated existence and knew little about everyday struggles.
insulated existence
Senior managers are often insulated from the daily problems that their teams have to handle.
No country today can remain fully insulated from the effects of global climate change.
The celebrity tried to insulate her personal life from public attention, but with little success.
- exposed to
not protected from; open to harm or influence
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'from' to indicate the source of protection. Unlike sense 1 (physical insulation), this sense does not describe an actual material barrier.
常見錯誤
insulated — verb
- insulatedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- insulateds3rd person singular
- insulateding-ing form
- insulatededpast simple
1. to put a layer of material around or inside something so that heat, cold, sound,
to put a layer of material around or inside something so that heat, cold, sound, or electricity cannot pass through easily.
The builders insulated the entire basement with foam panels last winter to stop the cold from coming up.
insulate + object + with [material]
Henry insulated the water pipes with rubber wrapping to stop them from freezing in the winter.
insulate + object + to [purpose]
We need to insulate the recording studio so that no noise from the street can be heard inside.
The technician carefully insulated each exposed wire with electrical tape before turning the power back on.
Homeowners should insulate their attics to reduce energy bills and keep the house comfortable all year.
- expose
to remove covering and leave open to the elements
文法句型
insulate + object + with/against
用法筆記
Often used in the passive, e.g. 'the attic is insulated with fibreglass'. The material is introduced with 'with' and what is blocked with 'against'.
常見錯誤
2. to shelter a person, group, or system so that unpleasant events, criticism, or u
to shelter a person, group, or system so that unpleasant events, criticism, or unwanted outside influences do not reach or affect them.
The government tried to insulate the national economy from the worst effects of the global crisis.
insulate [economy/system] from [threat]
Parents cannot completely insulate their children from disappointment and failure as they grow up.
Sayaka took a second job to insulate her family from sudden money problems after her husband lost his job.
New laws aim to insulate small businesses from unfair competition by larger companies.
The company insulated itself against costly lawsuits by buying extra liability insurance.
- expose
to leave vulnerable or unprotected from harm
文法句型
insulate + object + from
用法筆記
Object is typically a broad entity such as an economy, community, family, or system. The protective barrier is abstract rather than physical — distinguish from verb sense 1 which describes actual material.
常見錯誤
3. to place someone or something in a position that is detached, separated, or kept
to place someone or something in a position that is detached, separated, or kept apart from others.
The mountain village was insulated from the rest of the country by heavy snow that blocked all the roads.
passive: insulated by [natural barrier]
After moving to a new city for work, Otis felt insulated from his childhood friends.
The laboratory insulated the dangerous chemicals in a separate locked room away from the main workspace.
An ancient stone wall once insulated the royal palace from the crowded streets and noise of the city outside.
The research team was insulated from the main campus in a remote field station deep in the forest.
文法句型
insulate + object + from
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1 (covering with material) — this sense focuses on separation or seclusion rather than thermal or electrical protection. It is closer in meaning to 'isolate'.