Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Isolate \I"so*late\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Isolated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Isolating}.] [It. isolato, p. p. of isolare to
   isolate, fr. isola island, L. insula. See 2d {Isle}, and cf.
   {Insulate}.]
   1. To place in a detached situation; to place by itself or
      alone; to insulate; to separate from others.

            Short isolated sentences were the mode in which
            ancient wisdom delighted to convey its precepts.
                                                  --Bp.
                                                  Warburton.

   2. (Elec.) To insulate. See {Insulate}.

   3. (Chem.) To separate from all foreign substances; to make
      pure; to obtain in a free state.

Source : WordNet®

isolate
     v 1: place or set apart; "They isolated the political prisoners
          from the other inmates" [syn: {insulate}]
     2: obtain in pure form; "The chemist managed to isolate the
        compound"
     3: set apart from others; "The dentist sequesters the tooth he
        is working on" [syn: {sequester}, {sequestrate}, {keep
        apart}, {set apart}]
     4: separate (experiences) fromt he emotions relating to them