to purify a liquid by heating it so that it becomes a gas and then cooling it so that it becomes a liquid again, to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something

the essence of something, get to the heart of something, cut to the chase

distill down, distill into, distillate

Formal and Informal Expressions of distill

In different contexts, you can replace 'distill' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'purify, extract' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'boil down, get to the bottom of' is a commonplace synonym.

distill: Explore its Definition & Usage

distill Definition

1to purify a liquid by heating it so that it becomes a gas and then cooling it so that it becomes a liquid again
2to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something

Using distill: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "distill" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The water is distilled to remove impurities.
Example
The company distills its own brandy.
Example
She distilled her thoughts into a few sentences.
Example
The book distills years of research into a single volume.

distill Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for distill

Antonyms for distill

Idioms Using distill

the essence of something
the most important or fundamental aspect of something
Example
The book captures the essence of life in the city.
get to the heart of something
to understand or explain the most important or fundamental aspect of something
Example
The article gets to the heart of the issue, explaining the root causes of the problem.
cut to the chase
to get to the point or the most important part of something
Example
Let's cut to the chase and talk about what really matters.

Phrases with distill

distill down
to simplify or reduce something to its most essential or important parts
Example
Can you distill your argument down to one sentence?
distill into
to transform or condense something into a more concentrated form
Example
The experience was distilled into a powerful emotion that stayed with her for years.
distillate
a purified liquid that has been produced by distillation
Example
The distillate is used in the production of perfumes and other fragrances.

Origins of distill

from Latin 'destillare', meaning 'to drip down in drops'

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Summary: distill in Brief

To 'distill' [dɪˈstɪl] means to purify a liquid by heating and cooling it, or to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something. Examples include 'The water is distilled to remove impurities.' and 'She distilled her thoughts into a few sentences.' 'Distill' extends into phrases like 'distill down,' simplifying something to its most essential parts, and idioms like 'the essence of something,' referring to the most important aspect of something.