distil
Distil (verb) means to exude (a liquid) in small drops; also, to give off (a vapour) which condenses in small drops.
Etymology
From Late Middle English distillen (“to fall, flow, or shed in drops, drop, trickle; to shed drops; to fill (the eyes) with tears; (alchemy, medicine) to subject (something) to distillation; to obtain (something) using distillation; to distil; to condense or vaporize; (figuratively) to give (good fortune) to; to say (slanderous words)”) [and other forms], from Old French distiller (modern French distiller (“to distil”)), and from its etymon Latin distīllāre, a variant of Latin dēstīllāre, the present active infinitive of dēstīllō (“to drip or trickle down; to distil”), from dē- (prefix meaning ‘down, down from, down to’) + stīllō (“to drip, drop, trickle; to distil”) (from stīlla (“drop of liquid; (figuratively) small quantity”), probably a diminutive of stīria (“ice drop; icicle”)). Cognates * French distiller (“to distil”) * Italian distillare (“to distil”) * Occitan distillar * Portuguese destilar (“to distil; to drip”) * Spanish destilar (“to distil; to exude; to filter”)
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of distil?
"distil" (verb) means to exude (a liquid) in small drops; also, to give off (a vapour) which condenses in small drops.
What are the different meanings of distil?
"distil" has 3 main meanings: 1. To exude (a liquid) in small drops; also, to give off (a vapour) which condenses in small drops; 2. To impart (information, etc.) in small quantities; to infuse; 3. To heat (a substance, usually a liquid) so that a vapour is produced, and then to cool the vapour so that it condenses back into a liquid, either to purify the original substance or to obtain one of its components; to subject to distillation.