a. [ L. insularis, fr. insula island: cf. F. insulaire. See Isle. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to an island; of the nature, or possessing the characteristics, of an island; as, an insular climate, fauna, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the people of an island; narrow; circumscribed; illiberal; contracted; as, insular habits, opinions, or prejudices. [ 1913 Webster ]

The penury of insular conversation. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An islander. [ R. ] Berkeley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the state of being insulated.
Syn. -- insulation, insularity, detachment. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. insularité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state or quality of being an island or consisting of islands; insulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The insularity of Britain was first shown by Agricola, who sent his fleet round it. Pinkerton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Narrowness or illiberality of opinion; prejudice; exclusiveness; as, the insularity of the Chinese or of the aristocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an insular manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Insular. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Insulated p. pr. & vb. n. Insulating ] [ L. insulatus insulated, fr. insula island. See Isle, and cf. Isolate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To make an island of. [ Obs. ] Pennant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To place in a detached situation, or in a state having no communication with surrounding objects; to isolate; to separate. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Elec. & Thermotics) To prevent the transfer of electricity or heat to or from (bodies) by the interposition of nonconductors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Insulating stool (Elec.), a stool with legs of glass or some other nonconductor of electricity, used for insulating a person or any object placed upon it. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. 1. Standing by itself; not being contiguous to other bodies; separated; unconnected; isolated; as, an insulated house or column. [ 1913 Webster ]

The special and insulated situation of the Jews. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Elect. & Thermotics) Separated from other bodies by means of nonconductors of heat or electricity. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) Situated at so great a distance as to be beyond the effect of gravitation; -- said of stars supposed to be so far apart that the affect of their mutual attraction is insensible. C. A. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

Insulated wire, wire covered with some nonconducting material, such as plastic or silk, for use in conducting electricity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of insulating, or the state of being insulated; detachment from other objects; isolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Elec. & Thermotics) The act of separating a body from others by nonconductors, so as to prevent the transfer of electricity or of heat; also, the state of a body so separated. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The material or substance used to insulate from either electrical or thermal conduction; as, fiberglass is used as thermal insulation in the walls and roofs of houses. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, insulates. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Elec. & Thermotics) A substance or object that insulates; a nonconductor; as, polyurethane foam is a popular thermal insulator. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]