distill
gb/dɪstˈɪl/ us/dɪstˈɪl/
B2
English
összefoglal, sűrít, lepárol, desztillál, leszűr
VERB
B2
1
összefoglal
B1
sűrít
B2
Usage pattern:
distill [something] (into [something])
The editor helped distill the article into three clear takeaways.
A szerkesztő segített a cikk lényegét három világos tanulságra sűríteni.
Her job is to distill complex research into plain language.
Az a munkája, hogy az összetett kutatási eredményeket közérthető nyelven foglalja össze.
Can you distill your argument to one sentence?
Learner examples
Please distill the main points of this report.
Kérlek, foglald össze ennek a jelentésnek a fő pontjait.
He distilled the lesson into a short rule.
A tanulságot egy rövid szabályba sűrítette.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for simple shortening (like cutting a paragraph); it usually means finding the key idea or essence.
Meaning
reduce to the main points
Collocations
distill information
|distill the key points
|distill a message
|distill ideas
|distill an argument
|distill a report
|distill findings
|distill insights
|distill complex data
|distill the essence
Synonyms
summarize (More general; may not imply extracting the essence.)
|
condense (Emphasizes making something shorter.)
|
boil down (More informal phrasing for reducing to essentials.)
Antonyms
expand (Adds detail rather than removing it.)
|
elaborate (Develops ideas with more explanation.)
Themes
education
|writing
|communication
|business
Definition
To make something long or complex shorter and clearer by keeping only the main ideas.
To extract and express the most important ideas or meaning from something complex, leaving out details.
VERB
C1
2
lepárol
B2
Usage pattern:
distill [spirit/alcohol] (from [something])
The family has distilled whiskey on the farm for generations.
A család generációk óta whiskyt párol le a farmon.
They distill the spirit from fermented grain in copper stills.
Az erjesztett gabonából rézüstökben párolják le a szeszt.
In many places, it’s illegal to distill alcohol at home without a license.
Learner examples
This company distills gin.
Ez a cég gint párol le.
They distill alcohol in a factory.
Egy gyárban párolják le az alkoholt.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with 'ferment': fermenting creates alcohol; distilling concentrates it.
Meaning
make alcohol by distillation
Collocations
distill whiskey
|distill vodka
|distill gin
|distill rum
|distill brandy
|distill spirits
|distill alcohol
|distill a mash
|distill a wash
|illegally distill
Synonyms
make (Much broader; does not specify the distillation process.)
|
rectify (More technical; refine alcohol by repeated distillation.)
Antonyms
dilute (Reduces alcohol strength rather than concentrating it.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|industry
|chemistry
Definition
To make strong alcohol like whiskey or vodka using heat and cooling.
To produce a strong alcoholic drink by heating a fermented liquid so alcohol vapor forms and then cooling it to collect the alcohol-rich liquid.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
desztillál
C1
lepárol
B2
Usage pattern:
distill [liquid] (from [mixture/source])
In the lab, we distilled the solvent to remove impurities.
A laborban desztilláltuk az oldószert, hogy eltávolítsuk a szennyeződéseket.
Some systems distill seawater to produce drinking water.
Egyes rendszerek tengervizet desztillálnak, hogy ivóvizet állítsanak elő.
The plant distills crude oil into different fuels.
Learner examples
They distilled water for the experiment.
Vizet desztilláltak a kísérlethez.
The lab distills chemicals to make them pure.
A labor vegyszereket desztillál, hogy tisztává tegye őket.
Common mistake:
Distillation is different from filtration: filtration removes solids; distillation separates substances by boiling/condensing.
Meaning
purify a liquid by distillation
Collocations
distill water
|distill seawater
|distill a solution
|distill a mixture
|distill essential oils
|distill petroleum
|distill crude oil
|distill a solvent
|distill fractions
|distill impurities
Synonyms
purify (General term; does not specify the method.)
|
refine (Often industrial; may use multiple processes, not only distillation.)
Antonyms
contaminate (Makes a substance less pure.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|environment
Definition
To clean a liquid by heating it and collecting the vapor as a liquid again.
To separate or purify a liquid by boiling it and then cooling the vapor so it condenses into a cleaner liquid.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
leszűr
B2
Usage pattern:
distill [something] from [something]
It’s hard to distill a clear lesson from such a mixed outcome.
Nehéz világos tanulságot leszűrni egy ilyen vegyes eredményből.
She distilled a few practical principles from years of trial and error.
Éveknyi próbálkozásból és hibázásból néhány gyakorlati elvet szűrt le.
The book distills insights from hundreds of interviews.
Learner examples
We distilled one lesson from the project.
A projektből egy tanulságot szűrtünk le.
He distilled ideas from his experience.
A tapasztalataiból ötleteket szűrt le.
Common mistake:
This meaning often appears with 'from' (distill X from Y), not just 'distill X'.
Meaning
derive a lesson or feeling
Collocations
distill lessons from
|distill meaning from
|distill principles from
|distill patterns from
|distill conclusions from
|distill insights from
|distill themes from
|distill value from
|distill knowledge from
|distill guidance from
Synonyms
derive (More neutral and general; less imagery of concentrating.)
|
extract (Emphasizes taking something out; can sound more forceful.)
Antonyms
miss (Fails to notice or obtain the lesson or meaning.)
Themes
education
|thinking
|business
Definition
To get a clear lesson or idea from many events or details.
To draw out a particular lesson, meaning, or quality from a set of experiences, information, or observations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
distill
IPA
GB/dɪstˈɪl/
US/dɪstˈɪl/
Syllables & stress
dis - till (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (till)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: distill
- 3rd Person Singular: distills, distils
- Present Participle: distilling
- Past: distilled
- Past Participle: distilled
Word family
Forms
distills
verb
distils
verb
distilling
verb
distilled
verb
Core family
distillation
noun C1
distiller
noun
Related words
distillery
noun
Advanced or less common
distillate
noun
Expressions
distill [something] from [something]
1/dɪstˈɪl sˈʌmθɪŋ fɹˈʌm sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
draw out a key idea
To get an important idea from many details.
Examples
- It’s difficult to distill a clear trend from such noisy data.
- She distilled several themes from the interviews.
- We tried to distill practical advice from the case studies.
Learner examples
- We distilled one main idea from the book.
distill [something] into [something]
1/dɪstˈɪl sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
compress into a short form
To change something long into a short, clear version.
Examples
- She distilled the meeting notes into a one-page summary.
- The coach distilled years of experience into three simple habits.
- Try to distill your story into a single paragraph.
Learner examples
- He distilled the report into a short summary.
distill down (to)
1/dɪstˈɪl dˈaʊn tə/
phrasal verb
reduce to essentials
To make something simpler by keeping only the most important parts.
Examples
- If you distill it down, the problem is really about trust.
- We need to distill down the options to three realistic choices.
- His advice can be distilled down to one rule: listen first.
Learner examples
- Distill it down to one sentence.
- We distilled the plan down to three steps.
distill out
1/dɪstˈɪl ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
technical
separate out by distillation
To separate one substance from a mixture using heat and cooling.
Examples
- The chemist distilled out the solvent from the reaction mixture.
- Water can be distilled out of the mixture and collected separately.
- They distilled out impurities before the final analysis.
distilled spirits
1/dɪstˈɪld spˈɪɹɪts/
fixed phrase
strong alcoholic drinks
Strong alcohol made by distilling, like vodka or whiskey.
Examples
- The distillery produces several types of distilled spirits.
- Taxes on distilled spirits vary by state.
- The recipe calls for a small amount of distilled spirits.
Learner examples
- Vodka is a distilled spirit.
distilled water
1/dɪstˈɪld wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
purified water made by distillation
Very pure water made by heating and cooling it.
Examples
- The iron works best if you fill it with distilled water.
- We used distilled water to make the solution.
- Some car batteries require distilled water.
Learner examples
- I bought distilled water at the store.