distil

American  

[dih-stil] / dɪˈstɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

distilled, distilling

1. Chiefly British. a variant of distill.

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distil British  

/ dɪsˈtɪl /

verb

1. to subject to or undergo distillation See also rectify

2. to purify, separate, or concentrate, or be purified, separated, or concentrated by distillation

3. to obtain or be obtained by distillation

   to distil whisky

4. to exude or give off (a substance) in drops or small quantities

5. (tr) to extract the essence of as if by distillation

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Other Word Forms

• distillable adjective

Etymology

Origin of distil

C14: from Latin dēstillāre to distil, from _de- + stillāre to drip

Example Sentences

The Odones approached Croda, which had large manufacturing plants in Hull, and the chemist Don Suddaby, who was persuaded to distil the formula.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025

Just two races into the season, it already feels as if this year could distil, like last one, into a two-horse race, with Leclerc replacing Hamilton as Verstappen's main rival.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2022

"It is difficult to distil the geopolitical tensions from the macroeconomic backdrop," Dushanova said.

From Reuters • Nov. 19, 2021

Cobb also eloquently shows how figurative language does much more than simply distil or give shape to complex, intangible subjects.

From Nature • Mar. 29, 2020

No water washt it out: if any will, 'Tis that which must from thy owne eyes distil.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard