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

Because the story has been distilled, familiarity with the show is probably a necessity for full enjoyment.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Tensions with U.S. trade partners also put pressure on U.S. distilled spirits.

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But other industries, like wine and distilled spirits, have seen sharp drops in exports too.

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Early Sunday morning, Eric Mitchell, the president of the Alliance to End Hunger, distilled the implications in a single line: “Hunger will not disappear simply because it is no longer tracked.”

Read more on Salon

Venable distills his situation into a scene, which he then overtaxes into a full-scale play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• condense 
• extract 
• infuse 
• refine