segregate

[ verb seg-ri-geyt; noun seg-ri-git, -geyt ]
/ verb ˈsɛg rɪˌgeɪt; noun ˈsɛg rɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object), seg·re·gat·ed, seg·re·gat·ing.

to separate or set apart from others or from the main body or group; isolate: to segregate exceptional children; to segregate hardened criminals.
to require, by law or custom, the separation of (an ethnic, racial, religious, or other minority group) from the dominant majority.

verb (used without object), seg·re·gat·ed, seg·re·gat·ing.

to separate, withdraw, or go apart; separate from the main body and collect in one place; become segregated.
to practice, require, or enforce segregation, especially racial segregation.
Genetics. (of allelic genes) to separate during meiosis.

noun

a segregated thing, person, or group.

Origin of segregate

1400–50 in sense “segregated”; 1535–45 as transitive v.; late Middle English segregat < Latin sēgregātus (past participle of sēgregāre to part from the flock), equivalent to sē- se- + greg- (stem of grex flock) + -ātus -ate1; see gregarious

OTHER WORDS FROM segregate

Example sentences from the Web for segregate

British Dictionary definitions for segregate

segregate
/ (ˈsɛɡrɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

to set or be set apart from others or from the main group
(tr) to impose segregation on (a racial or minority group)
genetics metallurgy to undergo or cause to undergo segregation

Derived forms of segregate

segregable (ˈsɛɡrɪɡəbəl), adjective segregative, adjective segregator, noun

Word Origin for segregate

C16: from Latin sēgregāre, from sē- apart + grex a flock