Quarantine

/ˈkwɔːrənˌtiːn/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a place where individuals or animals are kept in isolation for health reasons.

The hospital had a separate quarantine area for patients showing symptoms of the flu.

a period of isolation to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

During the pandemic, many countries implemented a quarantine for travelers arriving from affected regions.

verb

to isolate someone or something to prevent the spread of disease.

The health authorities decided to quarantine all individuals who had come into contact with the infected patient.

to place restrictions on the movement of people or animals due to health concerns.

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

Quarantine and chill

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

Quar lockdown

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