distill

especially British, dis·til

[dih-stil]

verb (used with object)

distilled, distilling 

1. to subject to a process of vaporization and subsequent condensation, as for purification or concentration.

2. to extract the volatile components of by distillation; transform by distillation.

3. to concentrate, purify, or obtain by or as by distillation.

   to distill whiskey from mash.

4. to remove by distillation (usually followed by off orout ).

   to distill out impurities.

5. to extract the essential elements of; refine; abstract.

   She managed to distill her ideas into one succinct article.

6. to let fall in drops; give forth in or as in drops.

   The cool of the night distills the dew.

verb (used without object)

distilled, distilling 

1. to undergo or perform distillation.

2. to become vaporized and then condensed in distillation.

3. to drop, pass, or condense as a distillate.

4. to fall in drops; trickle; exude.

Other Word Forms

• distillable adjective
• nondistillable adjective
• redistill verb (used with object)
• redistillable adjective
• redistillableness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distill¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English distillen (from Anglo-French distiller ), from Latin distillāre, variant of dēstillāre, equivalent to dē- de- + stillāre to drip

Example Sentences

Carew's popular brands range from the golden-hued "Imperial Whisky" to "Tsarina Vodka", distilled from sugarcane with flavourings imported from the Netherlands.

Read more on Barron's

Washington, D.C., resident Sean Dunn distilled that sentiment for the modern moment recently, standing outside a courthouse after being found not guilty of a misdemeanor for throwing a turkey sandwich at an immigration officer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The skeptics’ most important point, as Mr. Easterly distills into modern political language, is that “development without consent is not necessarily progress.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Described in the wall text as a “living matryoshka doll,” the collection of eight pieces shown on one model distills the V&R poetics: a powerful idea, a performance-oriented presentation, a sense of wonder.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Here, too, as in most of his plays, which feature small casts, Mr. Hunter shares with Beckett the impulse to distill—to create potent, meaningful drama from the most economical means.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• condense 
• extract 
• infuse 
• refine