insulate

[ in-suh-leyt, ins-yuh- ]

verb (used with object)

, in·su·lat·ed, in·su·lat·ing.

1. to cover, line, or separate with a material that prevents or reduces the passage, transfer, or leakage of heat, electricity, or sound:

   to insulate an electric wire with a rubber sheath; to insulate a coat with down.

2. to place in an isolated situation or condition; segregate.

insulate

/ ˈɪnsjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to prevent or reduce the transmission of electricity, heat, or sound to or from (a body, device, or region) by surrounding with a nonconducting material
2. to isolate or detach

Other Words From

• non·insu·lating adjective
• pre·insu·late verb (used with object) preinsulated preinsulating
• re·insu·late verb (used with object) reinsulated reinsulating
• super·insu·lated adjective
• un·insu·lated adjective
• well-insu·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insulate¹

First recorded in 1530–40, insulate is from the Latin word insulātus made into an island. See insula, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of insulate¹

C16: from Late Latin insulātus: made into an island

Example Sentences

By legally insulating online businesses, Section 230 has encouraged innovation and growth.

From MIT Technology Review

Among those standards is the ability to insulate a brand’s ad from appearing next to certain other types of advertisers’ ads, which is possible for traditional TV ads, but harder to do in streaming.

From Digiday

A main problem with current electrodes is that the brain will eventually activate non-neuronal cells to form an insulating sheath around the electrode, sealing it off from the neurons it needs to record from.

From Singularity Hub 

They also secured a change to how they’re funded so they would be insulated from financial damage as thousands of families sought alternatives in the form of charter and home school opportunities.

From Voice of San Diego

Insulated running bottles will never keep water as cold as vacuum-insulated metal bottles.

From Outside Online

The perils of a heroin addiction for a user who is without the means to "insulate" themselves from disease and crime are many.

From The Daily Beast

The infrastructure at the Times, which might have helped insulate it, is gone.

From The Daily Beast

With Watergate closing in, Nixon fired Haldeman and Ehrlichman in a fruitless effort to insulate himself.

From The Daily Beast

We insulate ourselves from such natural volatility at our own peril.

From The Daily Beast

Both candidates push the zombie notion that an energy-independent U.S. can insulate itself from global disruptions.

From The Daily Beast

Insulate the winding from the core and the different layers from each other with a good quality of thin writing paper.

From Project Gutenberg

This was a matter of vital importance to him, and this man seemed able to insulate himself against either threat or suggestion.

From Project Gutenberg

No, Hollister reflected, he could not insulate himself and Doris against this environment, against these people.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the atheist alone who would insulate the kingdoms of the earth from the kingdom of heaven.

From Project Gutenberg

The plates are then built up so as to connect the sheets which require to be connected, and to insulate the other set.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cushion
• isolate
• seclude
• sequester
• shield
• wrap