QUARANTINE | Definition and Meaning

Definition of Quarantine

Quarantine

quar·an·tine

Definition/Meaning

(noun)

a period or place of isolation in which people or animals must be placed when they have arrived from a particular place or been exposed to an infectious disease;

e.g. The sick animal was put in quarantine so that it wouldn't infect the other animals.

(noun)

a restriction on the communication between and activities of people, or on the transport of goods, in order to control the spread of pests or disease;

e.g. A quarantine was placed on the fruits arriving from the infested orchard.

(verb)

to place a person or animal in isolation due to their suspected exposure to a disease, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, i.e. to detain them in quarantine;

e.g. They were forced to quarantine when they returned from a disease-stricken region.

(verb)

to isolate someone from normal communication or relations/interactions, by or as if by declaring quarantine;

e.g. The aggressor was made to quarantine until he agreed to behave properly.