Words / C1

di-STIL/dɪˈstɪl/

To distil (US distill) is to purify a liquid by boiling and condensing, or to extract the essential meaning: distil whisky, distil a finding. Extract (already in the dictionary) is a cousin; summarise is everyday; pad sits opposite. British spelling keeps one l. A slogan is not the n.

Meaning

To purify a liquid by heating and condensing; also to extract the essential meaning (British spelling).

Examples

• “Distil the finding to the n; do not distil it to a slogan.”
• “Extract is already in this course. Condense is a cousin. Summarise is everyday. A slogan is comms. A count is the finding. Put the number first; the slogan can wait for the press note after the embargo.”

Good to know

Purify; or extract the essence (British -il). Close: extract (already in the dictionary). Contrast: a slogan. The n is the essence.

Near in meaning

extract

New