/sep'euh ray"sheuhn/ , n.
1. an act or instance of separating or the state of being separated.
2. a place, line, or point of parting.
3. a gap, hole, rent, or the like.
4. something that separates or divides.
5. Law.
a. cessation of conjugal cohabitation, as by mutual consent.
b. See judicial separation .
6. Aerospace. the time or act of releasing a burned-out stage of a rocket or missile from the remainder.
7. Photog. See separation negative .
[ 1375-1425; late ME separation- (s. of separatio ), equiv. to separat ( us ) SEPARATE + -ion- -ION ]