insulate

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verb in·su·late \ ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt \

Definition of insulate

insulated; insulating

transitive verb

:to place in a detached situation :isolate; especially :to separate from conducting bodies by means of nonconductors so as to prevent transfer of electricity, heat, or sound

See insulate defined for English-language learners

See insulate defined for kids

Examples of insulate in a Sentence

They used a special type of fiberglass to insulate the attic.
a material that is able to insulate against cold
The company has tried to insulate itself from the region's political turmoil.
I wish I could insulate my children from painful experiences.

Recent Examples of insulate from the Web

The move opened a legal safety hatch that allowed the utility to pass along generating costs directly to consumers, insulating the SDG&E from insolvency that hit other utilities after power prices soared in 2000.

— dan mcswain, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sempra reveals Texas-sized appetite for risk," 27 Aug. 2017
The suspension insulated us fairly well from road faults – including the ridiculous speed bumps in my own gated community.

— g. chambers williams iii, star-telegram, "Chevrolet’s 2017 Silverado 1500 Z71 perfect for on- or off-road excursions," 25 Aug. 2017
Burns & McDonnell believes its financing model is unique and insulates the airport from risk.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity, "Burns & McDonnell’s KCI proposal: Quick construction leads to big savings," 14 Aug. 2017
These quadrupeds are perfectly adapted to the remote Arctic wasteland, sporting a coat of thick fur that contains an insulating under layer to seal them away from harsh temperatures.

— maya wei-haas, Smithsonian, "To Understand the Elusive Muskox, Researchers Must Become Its Worst Fear," 2 Aug. 2017
Considering Sarandon and Lange’s lofty status in Hollywood, their Emmy potential is likely to be quite insulated from this legal drama.

— yohana desta, vanityfair.com, "Olivia de Havilland, 101, Is Speeding Up Her Lawsuit Against Ryan Murphy," 26 July 2017
Considering Sarandon and Lange’s lofty status in Hollywood, their Emmy potential is likely to be quite insulated from this legal drama.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Olivia de Havilland, 101, Is Speeding Up Her Lawsuit Against Ryan Murphy," 26 July 2017
The next steps in turning these seven containers into a livable home are underway and include building a patio and garage out front, insulating the walls with spray foam (then sheetrock) and installing a rooftop deck.

— slade rand, NOLA.com, "7 shipping containers transform into 1 home in the Irish Channel," 20 July 2017
By contrast, more affluent households tend to spend more on services insulated from foreign trade, from gym memberships to child care.

— josh boak and paul wiseman, chicagotribune.com, "Made-in-USA goods can be pricey and elusive. Just ask Trump," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of insulate

Latin insula

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1741

See Words from the same year

insulate Synonyms

Synonyms

cut off, isolate, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester

Antonyms

desegregate, integrate, reintegrate

Related Words

quarantine; confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up), restrain, restrict; abstract, detach, disengage, remove; detain, hold, keep

Near Antonyms

assimilate, associate, connect, join, link, unite; discharge, free, liberate, loose, release

INSULATE Defined for English Language Learners

insulate

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verb

Definition of insulate for English Language Learners

: to add a material or substance to (something) in order to stop heat, electricity, or sound from going into or out of it
: to prevent (someone or something) from dealing with or experiencing something : to keep (someone or something) separate from something unpleasant, dangerous, etc.

INSULATE Defined for Kids

insulate

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verb in·su·late \ ˈin-sə-ˌlāt \

Definition of insulate for Students

insulated; insulating

1 :to separate from others :isolate

At home he insulates himself from the city.

2 :to separate a conductor of electricity, heat, or sound from other conductors by means of something that does not allow the passage of electricity, heat, or sound