separator

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tor ˈse-pə-ˌrā-tər 

ˈse-ˌprā-tər

: one that separates

especially : a device for separating liquids of different specific gravities (such as cream from milk) or liquids from solids

Synonyms

• divider
• fence
• wall

Examples of separator in a Sentence

the toddler insisted on a dinner plate with separators so that different foods would never touch one another

Recent Examples on the Web

The significant contribution of the Kharkiv memo was the suggestion of how to remove the separators between the two masses of uranium, which was similar to the one considered for the first American atomic bomb. —Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

To make separators, the group simply cleaned the eggshell membranes. —Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2025

The Brewers’ grasp on the little things has been their separator. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

Designing continuous reactors or efficient solid–liquid separators is needed to handle this. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for separator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

separator

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tor ˈsep-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

: one that separates

especially : a device for separating liquids (as cream from milk) of different densities or liquids from solids

Medical Definition

separator

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tor ˈsep-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər 

: one that separates: as

a

: a device for separating liquids of different specific gravities (as cream from milk) or liquids from solids

b

: a dental appliance for separating adjoining teeth to give access to their surfaces