Meaning & Definition of word "Quarantine"

Quarantine

/ˈkwɔːrənˌtiːn/

noun:

  • 1. a place where individuals or animals are kept in isolation for health reasons.
    • Example: The hospital had a separate quarantine area for patients showing symptoms of the flu.
  • 2. a period of isolation to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
    • Example: During the pandemic, many countries implemented a quarantine for travelers arriving from affected regions.

verb:

  • 1. to isolate someone or something to prevent the spread of disease.
    • Example: The health authorities decided to quarantine all individuals who had come into contact with the infected patient.
  • 2. to place restrictions on the movement of people or animals due to health concerns.
    • Example: In an effort to control the outbreak, the city quarantine all residents of the affected neighborhood.

Etymology

The word 'quarantine' comes from the Italian 'quarantina', meaning 'forty days', referring to the 40-day isolation period for ships arriving from plague-infected areas.

Common Phrases and Expressions

mandatory quarantine:

A legally required period of isolation for individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious disease.

quarantine zone:

An area that is isolated for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease.

self-quarantine:

Voluntarily isolating oneself to prevent the potential spread of disease.

Related Words

isolation:

The state of being separated from others.

contagion:

The communication of disease from one person to another.

epidemic:

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community.

Slang Meanings of quarantine

Meaning: Quarantine and chill

Example Sentence: Instead of going out, they decided to quarantine and chill with some movies.

Meaning: Quar lockdown

Example Sentence: We’ve been on a quar lockdown ever since the outbreak started.