distillation
[ dis-tl-ey-shuh n ]
/ ˌdɪs tlˈeɪ ʃən /
noun
the volatilization or evaporation and subsequent condensation of a liquid, as when water is boiled in a retort and the steam is condensed in a cool receiver.
the purification or concentration of a substance, the obtaining of the essence or volatile properties contained in it, or the separation of one substance from another, by such a process.
a product of distilling; distillate.
the act or fact of distilling or the state of being distilled.
Origin of distillation
1350–1400; Middle English
distillacioun (< Anglo-French) < Latin
distillātiōn- (stem of
distillātiō), equivalent to
distillāt(us)
distillate +
-iōn-
-ion
OTHER WORDS FROM distillation
dis·til·la·to·ry [dih-stil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /dɪˈstɪl əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, dis·til·la·tive [dih-stil-uh-tiv] /dɪˈstɪl ə tɪv/, adjective non·dis·til·la·tion, noun re·dis·til·la·tion, nounWords nearby distillation
distichous,
distil,
distill,
distilland,
distillate,
distillation,
distillation column,
distilled,
distilled water,
distiller,
distillers' grain
Example sentences from the Web for distillation
British Dictionary definitions for distillation
distillation
/ (ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən) /
noun
the act, process, or product of distilling
the process of evaporating or boiling a liquid and condensing its vapour
purification or separation of mixture by using different evaporation rates or boiling points of their components
See also fractional distillation
the process of obtaining the essence or an extract of a substance, usually by heating it in a solvent
another name for distillate (def. 1)
a concentrated essence
Derived forms of distillation
distillatory, adjectiveMedical definitions for distillation
distillation
[ dĭs′tə-lā′shən ]
n.
The evaporation and subsequent collection of a liquid by condensation as a means of purification.
The extraction of the volatile components of a mixture by the condensation and collection of the vapors that are produced as the mixture is heated.
Scientific definitions for distillation
distillation
[ dĭs′tə-lā′shən ]
A method of separating a substance that is in solution from its solvent or of separating a liquid from a mixture of liquids having different boiling points. The liquid to be separated is evaporated (as by boiling), and its vapor is then collected after it condenses. Distillation is used to separate fresh water from a salt solution and gasoline from petroleum.♦ The condensed vapor, which is the purified liquid, is called the distillate.
Cultural definitions for distillation
distillation
In chemistry, the separating of the constituents of a liquid by boiling it and then condensing the vapor that results. Distillation can be used to purify water or other substances, or to remove one component from a complex mixture, as when gasoline is distilled from crude oil or alcohol from a mash. When water is purified by distillation, it is boiled in a container, and the steam is sent into cooling tubes. The steam is condensed and then collected as purified water in a second container. The impurities in the water are left behind in the first container and can be discarded.
notes for distillation
Figuratively, “distillation” is the process of retaining the essential features or components of something while removing nonessentials: “This book represents knowledge distilled from decades of research.”