I. ˈkwȯrən.ˌtēn, -wär-, ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Medieval Latin quarentena, from Old French quarantaine period of forty days, from quarante forty, from Latin quadraginta; in other senses, from Italian quarantina, quarantena period of forty days, quarantine (of a ship), from Middle French quarantaine period of forty days, from Old French — more at quadragesima
1.
a. : the period often of 40 days during which a widow is permitted by law to remain in her deceased husband's principal home without being obliged to pay rent to the heirs
b. : a widow's right of quarantine
2. : a period of 40 days
3.
a. : a term (as of 40 days) during which a ship arriving in port and suspected of carrying serious contagious disease is forbidden all intercourse with the shore
b. : a regulation restraining a ship from intercourse with the shore while suspected of offering a threat of contagion
c. : a place where a ship is detained during quarantine
d. : a stoppage of travel, communication, or intercourse imposed as a precaution against contagion or infection or the spreading of plant or animal pests
4. : a restraint or interdiction placed upon the transportation of animals, plants, or goods suspected of being carriers of disease or other pest
5. : a place (as an isolation hospital) in which persons under quarantine are kept
6. : a section of a prison or reformatory in which new arrivals are detained for examination and observation before being permitted to mingle with other prisoners
7. : isolation enforced as a social or political penalty : sanction
four South American countries refused to join a diplomatic quarantine — R.W.Van Alstyne
sheer vulgarity … is so blatant as to isolate itself and proclaim its own quarantine — Louis Kronenberger
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to isolate as a precaution against contagious disease : detain in quarantine
2. : to exclude by quarantine
3. : to isolate or cut off from normal relations or intercourse as a social or political penalty or sanction
brave words in regard to quarantining the aggressor — R.M.Lovett
intransitive verb
: to establish or declare a quarantine