English

Alternative forms

• distill (North America)

Verb

distil ‎(third-person singular simple present distils, present participle distilling, simple past and past participle distilled)

1. (transitive) To subject a substance to distillation.
   • 1880, Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine of Utah

     In fact, it is used in a variety of medicines; we boil, burn, and distil it, to produce salts, corrodents, sublimates, […]

2. (intransitive) To undergo or be produced by distillation.
3. (transitive) To make by means of distillation, especially whisky.
4. (transitive) To exude in small drops.

   Firs distil resin.

5. (transitive) To impart in small quantities.
6. (transitive) To extract the essence of; concentrate; purify.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 239e.

     he'll pretend not to know about mirrors or water or even seeing, but will ask you to give only what can be distilled from what you say.

7. (intransitive) To trickle down or fall in small drops; ooze out.
8. (intransitive) To be manifested gently or gradually.
9. (intransitive) To drip or be wet with.

Translations

Derived terms

Old High German

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þistilaz, whence also Old English þistel, Old Norse þistill

Noun

distil f

1. thistle

Descendants

• German: Distel