/
dɪˈstɪl/
v.
(distils, distilling, distilled)
- purify (a liquid) by heating it so that it vaporizes, then cooling and condensing the vapour and collecting the resulting liquid.
▸make (spirits) in this way.
▸extract a volatile component of (a substance) by heating, often with a solvent.
- extract the essential meaning of.
Derivative
- distillate n.
- distillation n.
- distillatory adj.
Etymology
ME: from L. distillare, var. of destillare, from de- ‘down, away’ + stillare (from stilla ‘a drop’).
