English edit

Etymology edit

From Latin īnsula (island) +‎ -ate or from Late Latin īnsulātus (made an island); see insular. First attested in the 16th century. The general verb īnsulō (insulate) is attested only in New Latin and postdates the English term, but influence from an otherwise unattested Medieval Latin counterpart cannot be ruled out.[1] Piecewise doublet of isolate.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɪnsjʊleɪt/, /ˈɪnʃʊleɪt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɪnsʊleɪt/, /ˈɪnsəleɪt/
  • (Canada) IPA(key): [ˈɪns(j)ʊle(ɪ)t]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧su‧late

Verb edit

insulate (third-person singular simple present insulates, present participle insulating, simple past and past participle insulated)

  1. To separate, detach, or isolate.
  2. To separate a body or material from others, e.g. by non-conductors to prevent the transfer of electricity, heat, etc.
    Ceramic can be used to insulate power lines.

Synonyms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  1. ^ insulate, v.”, in OED Online  , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Latin edit

Participle edit

īnsulāte

  1. vocative masculine singular of īnsulātus