apart

Universal Words adverb 1 separated by a distance, of space or time: The two houses stood 500 metres apart. * Their birthdays are only three days apart. * (figurative) The two sides in the talks are still a long way apart (= are far from reaching an agreement). 2 not together; separate or separately: We're living apart now. * Over the years, Rosie and I had drifted apart. * She keeps herself apart from other people. * I can't tell the twins apart (= see the difference between them). 3 into pieces: The whole thing just came apart in my hands. * We had to take the engine apart. * When his wife died, his world fell apart. 4 used to say that sb/sth is not included in what you are talking about: Colin apart, not one of them seems suitable for the job. IDIOMS see JOKEv., POLEn., RIPv., WORLD