General meaning:
* To separate something or someone from others: This could be physical isolation (like being alone in a room) or social isolation (like being excluded from a group).
Specific examples:
* In science: To isolate a substance or organism means to separate it from other substances or organisms. This could be done by using a centrifuge, filter, or other techniques.
* In medicine: To isolate a virus or bacteria means to identify and grow it in a lab so that it can be studied.
* In technology: To isolate a problem means to identify the specific cause of a fault or error in a system.
* In psychology: Isolation can refer to a state of loneliness or detachment from others.
The meaning of "isolate" is often clarified by the context in which it is used. For example, "The scientists isolated the virus in the lab" refers to the scientific meaning, while "He felt isolated after his family moved away" refers to the psychological meaning.
If you can provide me with the specific context in which you encountered the word "isolate," I can give you a more precise definition.