separator
Thing between things
A separator is something that divides or keeps things apart.
In mechanical contexts, it's a device that sorts materials: a cream separator extracts fat from milk, an oil separator removes oil from compressed air.
In text and data, separators are characters that mark boundaries between elements—commas, tabs, or pipes: Use a comma as the field separator.
Any partition or barrier that prevents contact between things can be called a separator.
Porous separation device
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- gasketMechanical leak preventer
diaphragm · cartridge · centrifuge · screen · baffle · spacer · insert · liner
Barrier separating spaces
- dividerThing that partitions
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- screenDisplay or barrier
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
curtain · panel · shield · blockade · barricade · bulkhead · guardrail · railing
Thin tissue sheet
- filmMovie or coating
- interlayerStratum between other strata
- laminaThin flat layer
- insulatorSubstance resisting energy flow
dielectric · interleaf · sheathing · lining · coating
Mark joining compound words
- dashQuick burst or pinch
- en-dashMidlength horizontal stroke
- em-dashWide horizontal punctuation mark
- slashAngled line or swipe
virgule · pipe · vertical bar · colon · semicolon · comma · bullet · delimiter
Formal boundary setting
- dividing lineBoundary between regions
- borderOuter edge or limit
- marginEdge of a page
- interfaceShared connection point
threshold · break · division · gap · space · interval · buffer zone · neutral zone
Separating solids from liquids
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- centrifugationSpinning to separate densities
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- extractionAct of removing
purification · chromatography · decantation · sorting · sifting · winnowing · fractionation · dialysis
filter
Porous separation device
gasket · diaphragm · cartridge · centrifuge · screen · baffle · spacer · insert · liner · bushing
partition
Barrier separating spaces
fence · curtain · panel · shield · blockade · barricade · bulkhead · guardrail · railing · buffer
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- filmMovie or coating
- interlayerStratum between other strata
- laminaThin flat layer
insulator · dielectric · interleaf · sheathing · lining · coating
hyphen
Mark joining compound words
slash · virgule · pipe · vertical bar · colon · semicolon · comma · bullet · delimiter · underscore
demarcation
Formal boundary setting
- dividing lineBoundary between regions
- borderOuter edge or limit
- marginEdge of a page
interface · threshold · break · division · gap · space · interval · buffer zone · neutral zone
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- centrifugationSpinning to separate densities
- distillationPurification via vaporization
extraction · purification · chromatography · decantation · sorting · sifting · winnowing · fractionation · dialysis · osmosis
- filtersair filter, HEPA filter, carbon filter, screen filter, highpass
- separatorscyclone, decanter, thickener, vacuum filter, demister
- dairymilk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt
- farm equipmenttractor, tractors, plow, plows, plough
- separationsieving, straining, divide, filtration, split
- dividersdivider, partition, wall, room divider, barrier
separatorblender
Motorized food puréeing appliance
mixer · amalgamator · homogenizer · emulsifier · synthesizer
separatorconnection
A joining or relation
linking · connecting · union · junction · bond
- legal separationFormal marital split, not dissolution
- separation anxietyDistress from being apart
- go their separate waysEnd shared journey
- trial separationTemporary marital distance
- separate bedsDistinct sleeping surfaces, same room
- degree of separationLinks between two people
separate, separated, separation, separating, separately, separates, separateness, separations, separators