distillation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
    distillment.
  2. noun a purified liquid produced by condensation from a vapor during distilling; the product of distilling
    distillate.

WordNet

Dis`til*la"tion noun
Etymology
F. distillation, L. destillatio.
Definitions
  1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.
  2. That which falls in drops. R. Johnson
  3. (Chem.) The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam. ✍ The evaporation of water, its condensation into clouds, and its precipitation as rain, dew, frost, snow, or hail, is an illustration of natural distillation.
  4. The substance extracted by distilling. Shak.

Webster 1913