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”)

Synonyms

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condense extract sublimate distill purify

Antonyms

absorb retain

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of distil?

"distil" (verb) means to ooze out in small drops, or to give off a vapour that forms droplets.

What is another word for distil?

Other words for "distil" include condense, extract, sublimate, distill, purify.

What is the opposite of distil?

Opposites of "distil" include absorb, retain.

What are the different meanings of distil?

"distil" has 3 main meanings: 1. To ooze out in small drops, or to give off a vapour that forms droplets; 2. To pass on information gradually, a little at a time; 3. To purify or separate a liquid by heating it into vapour and then cooling the vapour back into liquid form.

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