DISTILL

distill, distil

(verb) give off (a liquid); “The doctor distilled a few drops of disinfectant onto the wound”

distill, distil

(verb) undergo the process of distillation

distill, extract, distil

(verb) extract by the process of distillation; “distill the essence of this compound”

condense, distill, distil

(verb) undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; “water condenses”; “The acid distills at a specific temperature”

purify, sublimate, make pure, distill

(verb) remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; “purify the water”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

distill (third-person singular simple present distills, present participle distilling, simple past and past participle distilled)

(transitive) To subject a substance to distillation.

(intransitive) To undergo or be produced by distillation.

(transitive) To make by means of distillation, especially whisky.

(transitive) To exude in small drops.

(transitive) To impart in small quantities.

(transitive) To extract the essence of; concentrate; purify.

(intransitive) To trickle down or fall in small drops; ooze out.

(intransitive) To be manifested gently or gradually.

(intransitive) To drip or be wet with.

Source: Wiktionary

Dis*till", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Distilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Distilling.] Etym: [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. Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain. Pope.

2. To flow gently, or in a small stream. The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia. Sir W. Raleigh.

3. To practice the art of distillation. Shak.

Dis*till", v. t.

1. To let fall or send down in drops. Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain. Pope. The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled. Drayton.

2. To obtain by distillation; 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.

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

4. To dissolve or melt. [R.] Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled. Addison.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition