insulate

Everyday

1. To cover something with a material that stops heat, cold or sound from passing through easily. tree →
2. To cover wires with a material that stops electricity from passing out, to keep people safe. tree →
3. To protect someone from something unpleasant. tree →

In the lessons

In science, insulators are materials that do not let heat or electricity pass easily: plastic and rubber insulate wires, wool and feathers insulate animals and people, foam insulates houses and lunch boxes. Experiments test which material keeps a cup of hot water warm longest. In safety, never touch a wire whose insulation is damaged. Phrases: «insulate a house», «insulated cup», «insulate from».

Examples

• We insulate the loft so the house stays warm. tree →
• Plastic insulates the wires so you don't get a shock. tree →
• Thick fur insulates polar bears from the cold. tree →
• Which material insulates the hot water best? tree →
• An insulated flask keeps soup hot for hours. tree →
• Wool socks insulate your feet in winter. tree →
• Air trapped between layers helps to insulate. tree →
• Never touch a cable if the plastic around it is broken. tree →

Note

Noun: «insulation»; a material that insulates is an «insulator»; the opposite is a «conductor». Trap: a blanket does not make heat; it insulates, keeping in the heat you already have — and it also keeps an ice cube cold.