distill
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to subject to a process of vaporization and subsequent condensation, as for purification or concentration.
-
to extract the volatile components of by distillation; transform by distillation.
-
to concentrate, purify, or obtain by or as by distillation.
to distill whiskey from mash.
-
to remove by distillation (usually followed by off orout ).
to distill out impurities.
-
to extract the essential elements of; refine; abstract.
She managed to distill her ideas into one succinct article.
-
to let fall in drops; give forth in or as in drops.
The cool of the night distills the dew.
verb (used without object)
-
to undergo or perform distillation.
-
to become vaporized and then condensed in distillation.
-
to drop, pass, or condense as a distillate.
-
to fall in drops; trickle; exude.
Other Word Forms
- distillable adjective
- nondistillable adjective
- redistill verb (used with object)
- redistillable adjective
- redistillableness noun
Etymology
Origin of distill
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If a Social Security campaign were launched, it would require distilling the message to a simple call to action, but the audience may be complicated, Egan said.
From MarketWatch
“So much of our creativity in this town is distilled into capitalistic value,” Bhabha says.
From Los Angeles Times
For the predictions to be accurate, or efficient, the platforms rely on a pool of traders to distill the wisdom of the crowd.
From Barron's
Like “The Pitt,” “St. Denis Medical” and “Scrubs” distill the unique relationships between doctors, nurses and patients.
From Salon
But beyond the basic genius of it and Pelosi’s masterful performance, what made her protest so effective was that it was distilled and digestible for the audience at home.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
