separate.
apart /э'рсгЛ/ [adv] if people or things are apart, they are in different places and there is a distance between them: Jo and Sam decided to try living apart for a while. I Since the universe began, the galaxies have gradually moved further apart.
+ from Helen noticed one little boy standing apart from the rest of the group.
keep sb apart The two sets of rival fans had to be kept apart by the police.
separately ,sep«?ri>tli/ [adv] not together, but at separate times or in separate places: The couple arrived separately at London Airport yesterday. ! Each problem should be considered separately.
to separate two things, people, or groups
separate 'xepareit, [и T| to put people or things that were together into different places or groups: If you two don't stop talking during class, I'll have to separate you.
separate sth from sth Farmers separate calves from their mothers when they are
only a few days old. I Break an egg and separate the white from the yolk. separate sth into groups/piles/parts etc
ALONE
Sheila had separated the clothes into two piles.
divide ,/di'vaid/ [u TJ to separate something into a number of smaller parts divide sth into two/three etc (=into two. three etc parts or pieces) We divided the pizza into three and had a slice each. I The country is divided into seven
provinces.
divide sth between/among (sb) They divided the money equally between them.
be divided into Most of these big old houses have been divided into apart ments.
split /split/ [v T] to separate something that used to be a single thing or a single group into two or more completely different parts: Rutherford first split the atom on 3rd January 1919.
split sth in hat//in two (-so that it makes
two equal parts) Why don't you just split the money in half?
split sth into two/three etc (=into two, three etc parts or pieces) For this exercise. I'm going to split the class into three groups.
splitting - split - have split
segregate /'segrigeit/ [и T often passive)
to separate one group of people from others, especially because of their race, sex. religion etc: The school system should not segregate children with disabilities.
be segregated from Male prisoners were strictly segregated from the females.
segregated (adj) segregated school/hotel/cinema/hous-
ing etc (=for only one group or race, and
not for others) At that time, the beaches in South Africa were segregated.
and half to the cathedral. I a political party that split into three separate groups
splitting - split - have split
SERIOUS
took here for...
a serious problem, accident, illness, crime not joking
see also joke
D a serious problem/ accident/illness/crime
serious 'surias/1 adj] very bad - use this about problems, accidents, illnesses, or
crimes-. There was a serious accident on the freeway. I serious head injuries I Unemployment is a serious problem in many countries. I Drug smuggling is a serious crime.
seriously |adu] seriously ill/injured/ajffected Her father is seriously ill in the hospital.
bad /b<ed [adj] serious enough to cause problems or make you feel worried - use this especially about accidents or illnesses: I stayed home yesterday with a bad cold. I a bad car crash
badly [adv] badly injure d/damaged/ajffected Several people were killed or badly injured in the attack. I The furniture was badly damaged by fire.
Д Don't say 'her hands were burned
badly'. Say her hands were badly burned Badly comes before a past participle.
when something becomes separated into different parts
divide /dj'vaid/ (и I] to become separated into two or more parts a road/path/river divides They came to a point where the river divided. + into The single cell divides into two identical cells.
Split /split/ [и I] if a group of people splits, it becomes separated into two or more smaller groups
split into two/three etc The class split into two. Half of us went to the museum
desperate 'despot/ {adj} use this about a very serious or dangerous situation, especially when people will die if it does not improve: The situation is getting desperate - we've had no rain for months. I a desperate shortage of food and medical supplies
Qnasty /"naistil'nsesti/ [adj] especially
spoken use this about small accidents or illnesses that are worse than you would normally expect them to be: That cough sounds nasty - you ought to see a doctor. 1 He had a nasty cut on his head.
nasty - nastier - nastiest
when you really mean what you say
be serious /bi; 'swrias/ to really mean what you say, or really intend to do something: Listen! I'm serious! I'm not lending you any money, i Barratt had threatened them, but no-one was sure if he was serious.
be serious about doing sth I hope Jeffs serious about giving up smoking, be perfectly/absolutely serious (=be serious, even though this seems very unlikely) "Look!" he said, "J am perfectly serious. I'm willing to give you $10,000 for your land."
Qnot joking jm\ dssokn}/ spoken if you are not joking, you really mean what you say. even though it seems surprising or unlikely: There must have been about 10 of them in that car-Lm not joking. I She told him she'd cali the police if he bothered her again, and she wasn't joking.
Qseriously 'si<?rhsli/ [acfu] spoken say this to emphasize that something surprising is really true, or to ask whether something surprising is really true: Seriously, I think you're making a big mistake. I "She's quit her job:' "Seriously?"