isolate 侧重指完全分离、隔开，也指人或处于完全孤立的状态。
separate 指一般意义上的分开或隔开。
segregate 指把一群人或物从整体或主体中分离出来。
insulate 指隔开、分离，尤指用某种东西阻挡从里面逃出或从外面进入的东西。作技术用词时，专指用某种绝缘体隔断通路。
参考例句
1. Steelmakers favor contract prices to lock in costs and insulate them from price jumps. 钢铁制造商希望通过合约价锁定成本，以免受涨价的影响。
2. The system can insulate the local failure, enhance the reliability and reduce the cost. 该系统能有效隔离局部故障，提高了系统可靠性和降低了系统成本。
3. And high oil and gas prices helped insulate it, along with the other energy-producing states, at the beginning of the downturn. 在衰退的初期，较高的石油和天然气价格帮助俄州（以及其它能源开采州）延缓进入低迷。
英英解释
v.
1. protect from heat, cold, or noise by surrounding with insulating material
2. place or set apart
