■ adjective 'sɛp(ə)rət forming or viewed as a unit apart or by itself; not joined or united with others.
↘different; distinct.
■ verb 'sɛpəreɪt
1》 move or come apart; make or become detached or disconnected.
↘stop living together as a couple.
↘ US discharge or dismiss from service or employment.
2》 divide into constituent or distinct elements.
↘extract or remove for use or rejection.
↘distinguish between or from another; consider individually.
3》 form a distinction or boundary between.
■ plural noun ( ~s ) 'sɛp(ə)rəts things forming units by themselves, in particular individual items of clothing suitable for wearing in different combinations.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
separative adjective
separator noun
Origin
ME: from L. separat- , separare 'disjoin, divide', from se- 'apart' + parare 'prepare'.