[n] the act of dividing or disconnecting
[n] the social act of separating or parting company; "the separation of church and state"
[n] (law) the cessation of cohabitation of man and wife (either by mutual agreement or under a court order)
[n] sorting one thing from others; "the separation of wheat from chaff"; "the separation of mail by postal zones"
[n] the distance between things; "fragile items require separation and cushioning"
[n] termination of employment (by resignation or dismissal)
[n] coming apart
[n] the space where a division or parting occurs; "he hid in the separation between walls"
[n] the state of lacking unity