distil
Definitions
To purify or concentrate a liquid by heating it and condensing the vapour
蒸馏，提纯（液体）
To extract the essential meaning or essence of something
提炼，浓缩（精华、要点）
Root Breakdown
Root-deriveddē- ('down') + still ('drip') = to drip down. You heat a liquid until it turns to vapour, then catch the drops that condense and fall — purer than what you started with. From this comes the figurative sense: to distil a report is to boil it down to its essence. (British distil / American distill.)
Root till still carries 6 more wordsUsage Guide
Spelling: British English usually writes distil (one l), American English distill (two l's); both double the l before endings — distilled, distilling. Common figurative pattern: 'distil X into Y' (distil research into a summary).
Example Sentences
- 1.
Whisky is made by distilling fermented grain.
- 2.
She distilled her hour-long talk into a single slide.
- 3.
The plant distils seawater into drinking water.