distill (redirected from distills)

dis·till also dis·til  (d-stl)

v. dis·tilled also dis·tilled, dis·till·ing also dis·til·ling, dis·tills also dis·tils

v.tr.

1. To subject (a substance) to distillation.

2. To separate (a distillate) by distillation.

3. To increase the concentration of, separate, or purify by or as if by distillation.

4. To separate or extract the essential elements of: distill the crucial points of the book.

5. To exude or give off (matter) in drops or small quantities.

v.intr.

1. To undergo or be produced by distillation.

2. To fall or exude in drops or small quantities.

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[Middle English distillen, from Old French distiller, from Latin distillre, variant of dstillre, to trickle : d-, de- + stillre, to drip (from stilla, drop).]

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dis·tilla·ble adj.

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	distill - remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; "purify the water" make pure, purify, sublimate chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions ameliorate, improve, meliorate, amend, better - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes" distill, distil - undergo the process of distillation rectify, refine - reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities; "refine sugar" purge - rid of impurities; "purge the water"; "purge your mind"
	2.	distill - undergo the process of distillation distil chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night" distil, distill, extract - extract by the process of distillation; "distill the essence of this compound" distill, make pure, purify, sublimate - remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; "purify the water"
	3.	distill - extract by the process of distillation; "distill the essence of this compound" distil, extract chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions moonshine - distill (alcohol) illegally; produce moonshine distill, distil - undergo the process of distillation create, make - make or cause to be or to become; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor"
	4.	distill - undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; "water condenses"; "The acid distills at a specific temperature" condense, distil condense - develop due to condensation; "All our planets condensed out of the same material" condense - remove water from; "condense the milk" flux, liquify, liquefy - become liquid or fluid when heated; "the frozen fat liquefied"
	5.	distill - give off (a liquid); "The doctor distilled a few drops of disinfectant onto the wound" distil exudate, exude, ooze out, transude, ooze - release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities; "exude sweat through the pores"