- 1insulate something (from/against something) to protect something with a material that prevents heat, sound, electricity, etc. from passing through Home owners are being encouraged to insulate their homes to save energy. Wordfinderelectricitybattery, charge, conduct, connect, electricity, generate, insulate, power, switch, wire CollocationsDecorating and home improvementHouses refurbish/renovate/ (British English) do up a building/a house convert a building/house/room into homes/offices/(especially North American English) apartments/(British English) flats extend/enlarge a house/building/room/kitchen build (British English) an extension (to the back/rear of a house)/(North American English) an addition (on/to something)/(British English) a conservatory knock down/demolish a house/home/building/wall knock out/through the wall separating two roomsDecoration furnish/paint/ (especially British English) decorate a home/a house/an apartment/a flat/a room be decorated in bright colours/(especially US English) colors/in a traditional style/with flowers/with paintings paint/plaster the walls/ceiling hang/put up/strip off/remove the wallpaper install/replace/remove the bathroom fixtures/(British English) fittings build/put up shelves lay wooden flooring/timber decking/floor tiles/a carpet/a patio put up/hang/take down a picture/painting/poster/curtainDIY/home improvement do (British English) DIY/carpentry/the plumbing/the wiring make home improvements add/install central heating/underfloor heating/insulation fit/install double-glazing/a smoke alarm insulate your house/your home/the walls/the pipes/the tanks/(especially British English) the loft fix/repair a roof/a leak/a pipe/the plumbing/a leaking (especially British English) tap/(usually North American English) faucet block/clog (up)/unblock/unclog a pipe/sink make/drill/fill a hole hammer (in)/pull out/remove a nail tighten/untighten/loosen/remove a screw saw/cut/treat/stain/varnish/paint wood
- 2insulate somebody/something from/against something to protect somebody/something from unpleasant experiences or influences synonym shield Until now the industry has been insulated from economic realities. Word Originmid 16th cent. (originally meaning to make land in to an island): from Latin insula ‘island’ + -ate.
insulate
verbBrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪt//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they insulate BrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪt//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪt//
he / she / it insulates BrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪts//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪts//
past simple insulated BrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪtɪd//
past participle insulated BrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪtɪd//
-ing form insulating BrE BrE//ˈɪnsjuleɪtɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪnsəleɪtɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: insulate
