distill Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
    make pure; purify; sublimate.
    • purify the water
  2. verb undergo the process of distillation
    distil.
  3. verb extract by the process of distillation
    distil; extract.
    • distill the essence of this compound
  4. verb undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops
    distil; condense.
    • water condenses
    • The acid distills at a specific temperature
  5. verb give off (a liquid)
    distil.
    • The doctor distilled a few drops of disinfectant onto the wound

WordNet

Dis*till" intransitive verb
Etymology
F. distiller, from L. destillare, destillatum; de + stillare to drop, stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop, icicle; prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still, n. & v., Instill.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Distilled ; present participle & verbal noun Distilling
Definitions
  1. To drop; to fall in drops; to trickle.
    Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain. Pope.
  2. To flow gently, or in a small stream.
    The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia. Sir W. Raleigh.
  3. To practice the art of distillation. Shak.
Dis*till" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To let fall or send down in drops.
    Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain. Pope.
    The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled. Drayton.
  2. To obtain by distillation; to extract by distillation, as spirits, essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to distill brandy from wine; to distill alcoholic spirits from grain; to distill essential oils from flowers, etc.; to distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling odors on me." Tennyson.
  3. To subject to distillation; as, to distill molasses in making rum; to distill barley, rye, corn, etc.
  4. To dissolve or melt. R.
    Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled. Addison.

Webster 1913