separate
verb
ˈsepəreɪt 
ˈsepəreɪt 
1 [intransitive, transitive] to divide into different parts or groups; to divide things into different parts or groupsStir the sauce constantly so that it does not separate.separate something Separate the eggs (= separate the yolk from the white).separate something from/and something It is impossible to separate belief from emotion.separate something into something Make a list of points and separate them into ‘desirable’ and ‘essential’.2 [intransitive, transitive] to move apart; to make people or things move apartSouth America and Africa separated 200 million years ago.separate from something South America separated from Africa 200 million years ago.separate into something We separated into several different search parties.separate somebody/something Police tried to separate the two men who were fighting.The war separated many families.separate somebody/something from/and somebody/something Those suffering from infectious diseases were separated from the other patients.3 [transitive] to be between two people, areas, countries, etc. so that they are not touching or connectedseparate somebody/something A thousand kilometres separates the two cities.separate somebody/something from/and somebody A high wall separated our back yard from the playing field.4 [intransitive] to stop living together as a couple with your husband, wife or partnerThey separated last year.separate from somebody He separated from his wife after 20 years of marriage.5 [transitive] separate somebody/something (from somebody/something) to make somebody/something different in some way from somebody/something elseSynonym
dividePolitics is the only thing that separates us (= that we disagree about).Her lack of religious faith separated her from the rest of her family.The judges found it impossible to separate the two contestants (= they gave them equal scores).Only four points separate the top three teams. Idioms
see separate/sort out the men from the boys at man noun, sort out/separate the sheep from the goats at sheep, sort out/separate the wheat from the chaff at wheatPhrasal verbs
separate out
|separate something 
out
to divide into different parts; to divide something into different partsto separate out different meaningsThe material is reprocessed to separate out impurities.
Usage note: Marriage and divorceRomancefall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with somebody)be/believe in/fall in love at first sightbe/find true love/the love of your lifesuffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited lovehave/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for somebody/somethingmeet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriendhave/go on a (blind) datebe going out with/(especially North American English) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/womanmove in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partnerWeddingsget/be engaged/married/divorcedarrange/plan a weddinghave a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriagehave/enter into an arranged marriagecall off/cancel/postpone your weddinginvite somebody to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding receptionconduct/perform a wedding ceremonyexchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vowscongratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couplebe/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)celebrate your first (wedding) anniversarySeparation and divorcebe unfaithful to/(informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriendhave an affair (with somebody)break off/end an engagement/a relationshipbreak up with/split up with/(informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriendseparate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wifeannul/dissolve a marriageapply for/ask for/go through/get a divorceget/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the childrenpay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband)