distill

Verb
Synonyms: purifysublimatemake puredistilextractcondense

WordNet 3.0

Verb (5)

  1. remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation“purify the water”Synonyms: purifysublimatemake pure
  2. undergo the process of distillationSynonyms: distil
  3. extract by the process of distillation“distill the essence of this compound”Synonyms: extractdistil
  4. undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops“water condenses”“The acid distills at a specific temperature”Synonyms: condensedistil
  5. give off (a liquid)“The doctor distilled a few drops of disinfectant onto the wound”Synonyms: distil
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Distill \Dis*till"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Distilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Distilling.] [F. distiller, from L. destillare, destillatum; de + stillare to drop, stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop, icicle; prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still, n. & v., Instill.] [Written also distil.]

1.To drop; to fall in drops; to trickle. [1913 Webster]

Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.To flow gently, or in a small stream. [1913 Webster]

The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia.— Sir W. Raleigh.[1913 Webster]

3.To practice the art of distillation. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Distill \Dis*till"\, v. t.

1.To let fall or send down in drops. [1913 Webster]

Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled.— Drayton.[1913 Webster]

2.To obtain by distillation; to subject to a process of evaporation and subsequent condensation; to extract by distillation, as spirits, essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to distill brandy from wine; to distill alcoholic spirits from grain; to distill essential oils from flowers, etc.; to distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling odors on me." --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

3.To subject to distillation; as, to distill molasses in making rum; to distill barley, rye, corn, etc. [1913 Webster]

4.To dissolve or melt. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

5.to extract out and present the essence of; to shorten and refine; to present the essential elements of; -- of ideas or texts. [PJC]

Advertisement