isolate

/ˈaɪsəleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaɪsəlˌet] /ˈaɪsəleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈaɪsəlˌet] /ˈī-sə-ˌlāt also ˈi-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈaɪ.sə.lət/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaɪsəlˌet] /ˈaɪ.sə.lət/ (ame, ipa)

isolate — 動詞

  • isolatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • isolateshe / she / it
  • isolatedpast simple
  • isolating-ing form

1. to pull one thing or one part away from the rest so you can handle it on its own

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

分開；抽出

把一部分從整體中單獨分出

to pull one thing or one part away from the rest so you can handle it on its own

例句

The mechanic isolated the loose wire before repairing the kitchen light.

維修廚房燈之前，技師先把鬆掉的電線分開處理。

isolate + object before repair

Elena isolated the bad apples from the box before the market opened.

市場開門前，Elena 先把壞掉的蘋果從箱子裡分了出來。

同義詞
  • separate

    the broad everyday verb for putting things apart

  • detach

    best when something is physically connected and then pulled away

  • extract

    stresses taking something out, often for a purpose

反義詞
  • combine

    bring parts together into one whole

  • mix

    put different things together instead of keeping them apart

文法句型

isolate + noun + from + noun

isolate + one part of + noun

用法筆記

Often follows the pattern 'isolate X from Y'. It can refer to a physical object, one part of a recording, or one part of a larger problem that needs separate attention.

常見錯誤

❌The guard isolated the patient from a side room.
✅The guard isolated the patient in a side room.
💡Use 'in' for the place where someone is kept, and 'from' for what they are kept apart from.

2. to place someone or an animal elsewhere so contact with the rest is stopped

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

隔離

把人或動物另外安置，不讓接觸

to place someone or an animal elsewhere so contact with the rest is stopped

例句

The nurse isolated the patient in a side room after the fever returned.

發燒又回來後，護理師把病人隔離在側邊病房。

isolate + patient in a room

Farmers isolated the new calf for a week before it joined the herd.

農夫先把新生小牛隔離一週，才讓牠加入牛群。

同義詞
  • quarantine

    more specific; usually for disease risk

  • separate

    more general and less medical

  • seclude

    more formal; often stresses privacy or being shut away

反義詞
  • release

    allow someone or something to return to normal contact

文法句型

isolate + person/animal + in + place

isolate + person/animal + from + others

用法筆記

Often used for illness, safety, or animal care. The point is preventing contact, not simply making the person or animal feel lonely.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor isolated the patient with the other visitors.
✅The doctor isolated the patient from the other visitors.
💡This sense needs separation away from other people, not placement together with them.

3. to make someone, a group, or even a country lose normal contact or support from

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

孤立

使人或團體失去外界聯繫與支持

to make someone, a group, or even a country lose normal contact or support from others

例句

The new rules isolated small schools from the rest of the funding system.

新規定把小型學校孤立在整個補助制度之外。

isolate a group from wider support

Repeated jokes about his accent isolated Amir from the class.

一再拿口音開玩笑，讓 Amir 在班上被孤立。

同義詞
  • ostracize

    stronger; suggests pushing a person out of a group on purpose

  • marginalize

    focuses on pushing someone to the edge of influence

  • alienate

    stresses making people feel unfriendly or distant

反義詞
  • include

    make someone part of the group

  • integrate

    bring someone or something fully into a larger whole

文法句型

isolate + person/group/country + from + noun

isolate + reflexive pronoun

用法筆記

Usually describes social, political, or emotional separation rather than moving someone to a room. It is common with groups, countries, and organizations.

常見錯誤

❌The policy isolated the country with its allies.
✅The policy isolated the country from its allies.
💡Use 'from' to show the people or groups that are cut off.

4. to make one muscle, one joint, or one small muscle group work by itself instead

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

單獨訓練

只讓單一肌肉或關節出力

to make one muscle, one joint, or one small muscle group work by itself instead of several together

例句

This machine isolates your back muscles without tiring your legs.

這台機器能單獨訓練你的背肌，不會先累到腿。

isolate + muscle group

The coach taught Mei a move that isolates the shoulder joint.

教練教 Mei 一個能單獨訓練肩關節的動作。

同義詞
  • target

    broader fitness verb for focusing work on a body part

  • work

    more general and less technical than 'isolate'

文法句型

isolate + muscle/joint

exercise to isolate + body part

用法筆記

Common in gym and physical-therapy contexts. It contrasts with compound exercises that make several muscles work together at the same time.

5. to take one substance, cell, or chemical out of a sample for clean testing or us

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

分離；純化

把單一物質自樣本中分出並純化

to take one substance, cell, or chemical out of a sample for clean testing or use

例句

The lab isolated the virus from a blood sample within two days.

實驗室在兩天內就從血液樣本中分離出病毒。

isolate + virus from sample

Researchers isolated a protein from seaweed for further testing.

研究人員從海藻中分離出一種蛋白質，做進一步測試。

同義詞
  • extract

    focuses on taking something out from a larger source

  • purify

    stresses making the final material cleaner

  • separate

    broader verb that does not always suggest scientific purity

反義詞
  • contaminate

    make a sample impure by adding unwanted material

文法句型

isolate + substance/cell + from + sample

isolate + compound

用法筆記

Common in laboratory and science writing. It usually suggests taking something out of a sample so it can be examined in a cleaner or purer state.

isolate — 名詞