distill
reduce to the main points
To make something long or complex shorter and clearer by keeping only the main ideas.
distill [something] (into [something])
- The editor helped distill the article into three clear takeaways.
- Her job is to distill complex research into plain language.
- Can you distill your argument to one sentence?
- Please distill the main points of this report.
- He distilled the lesson into a short rule.
make alcohol by distillation
To make strong alcohol like whiskey or vodka using heat and cooling.
distill [spirit/alcohol] (from [something])
- The family has distilled whiskey on the farm for generations.
- They distill the spirit from fermented grain in copper stills.
- In many places, it’s illegal to distill alcohol at home without a license.
- This company distills gin.
- They distill alcohol in a factory.
purify a liquid by distillation
To clean a liquid by heating it and collecting the vapor as a liquid again.
distill [liquid] (from [mixture/source])
- In the lab, we distilled the solvent to remove impurities.
- Some systems distill seawater to produce drinking water.
- The plant distills crude oil into different fuels.
- They distilled water for the experiment.
- The lab distills chemicals to make them pure.
derive a lesson or feeling
To get a clear lesson or idea from many events or details.
distill [something] from [something]
- It’s hard to distill a clear lesson from such a mixed outcome.
- She distilled a few practical principles from years of trial and error.
- The book distills insights from hundreds of interviews.
- We distilled one lesson from the project.
- He distilled ideas from his experience.
- Base: distill
- 3rd Person Singular: distills, distils
- Present Participle: distilling
- Past: distilled
- Past Participle: distilled
distill [something] from [something]
1draw out a key idea
To get an important idea from many details.
- 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.
distill [something] into [something]
1compress into a short form
To change something long into a short, clear version.
- 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.
distill down (to)
1reduce to essentials
To make something simpler by keeping only the most important parts.
- 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.
distill out
1separate out by distillation
To separate one substance from a mixture using heat and cooling.
- 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
1strong alcoholic drinks
Strong alcohol made by distilling, like vodka or whiskey.
- 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.
distilled water
1purified water made by distillation
Very pure water made by heating and cooling it.
- 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.