Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Distill?

\Dis*till"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Distilled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Distilling}.] [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.