Vocabulary word Distill - Practice with online flashcards, spelling bees and vocabulary quizzes

Creativity and Originality

Learning activities:

Education and Mastery

Learning activities:

Wholeness and Completion

Learning activities:

Dictionary Definition of distill

To purify or extract substances through the application of heat and condensation.
"It took weeks to distill the desired scent from the delicate petals."

Detailed Meaning of Distill

When something is distilled, it typically involves heating a liquid mixture to vaporize its volatile components and then cooling the vapor to collect the condensed, purified substance. This process is often used in the production of alcoholic beverages, essential oils, and other distilled products. By separating the volatile components from the non-volatile ones, distillation allows for the extraction of a more concentrated or refined substance. Additionally, "distill" can be used metaphorically to describe the act of extracting or condensing essential or valuable information or concepts from a larger body of knowledge or experience. It involves distilling the most important or relevant aspects to gain a clearer understanding or convey succinctly. Overall, "distill" signifies the process of purifying substances through heat and condensation, as well as the extraction of essential elements from a larger whole.

Example Sentences for Distill

1. I need to distill the main points from this lengthy report for my boss.
2. The perfumer will distill the essence from roses to create the desired fragrance.
3. Can you distill the complex physics theorem into a simple explanation?
4. Chemistry students are learning to distill a solvent in the laboratory today.
5. You must distill the truth from the web of lies in this investigation.
6. After we distill the water, it will be safe for drinking.

Origin and Etymology of Distill

The verb 'distill' has its origins in the Latin word 'distillare,' which is a combination of 'dis-' meaning 'apart' or 'down from' and 'stillare' meaning 'to drip' or 'to drop.' Etymologically, 'distill' conveys the idea of separating or extracting something by causing it to drip down. In its modern usage, 'distill' refers to the process of purifying or extracting substances through the application of heat and condensation. This process involves heating a liquid mixture to produce vapor and then cooling the vapor to collect the condensed liquid. 'Distill' captures the essence of separating and purifying substances by causing them to drip or drop, thereby isolating the desired components. The etymology of 'distill' reflects its historical connection to the methodical process of extracting and purifying liquids, making it a fitting term for the art and science of distillation.

Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding

Find the correct meaning of the verb distill:

mix

contaminate

pollute

purify

Try Again!

Correct!

Continue Quiz

More Usage Examples of Distill

1. Let's distill the feedback from the focus groups to guide our marketing strategy.
2. You have to distill the essential oils from the plant matter using a steam process.
3. The engineers developed a new technique to distill saltwater into freshwater.
4. It's not easy to distill the wisdom from old philosophical texts.
5. The moonshiners would distill corn mash to create their potent brew.
6. We will distill the raw data into easily understandable charts and graphs.
7. It is important to distill your thoughts before speaking on complex matters.
8. The teacher asked us to distill the main theme from the novel.
9. We can distill pure alcohol from the fermented fruit using this apparatus.
10. To distill the essence of this argument, we need to remove all biases and preconceptions.
11. As a novelist, it's her job to distill reality into words that resonate with readers.
12. Please distill your proposal into a one-page executive summary.
13. To create the perfume, they distill the aromatic compounds from a variety of botanical sources.
14. They're trying to distill their startup's vision into a single, compelling elevator pitch.