# distillation

/ˌdɪstəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /dɪstɪlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/distillation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. chemical process

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the process of heating a liquid until it becomes steam and then cooling it back into a pure liquid.

For teachers: the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation.

- The distillation of water removes salt and other minerals to make it safe to drink.
- Fractional distillation is a critical industrial process used in petroleum refineries to separate crude oil into useful components like gasoline and heating oil.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general process.

### 2. making alcohol

noun · CEFR B2

the process of making strong alcoholic drinks like whiskey or vodka.

For teachers: the production of high-alcohol spirits through the evaporation and re-condensation of fermented liquids.

- The region is famous for the distillation of high-quality apple brandy.
- The distillery has perfected the distillation of single-malt scotch over several generations, using traditional copper pot stills.

### 3. extracting the essence

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the act of taking a large amount of information and turning it into a short, clear summary.

For teachers: the process of extracting the most essential meaning or most important parts of an idea, text, or experience.

- His new book is a perfect distillation of twenty years of research.
- The executive summary provided a brilliant distillation of the complex geopolitical factors currently affecting international trade agreements.

### 4. computing/AI

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

making a large, complex computer program smaller and faster while keeping its intelligence.

For teachers: the process of transferring knowledge from a large, complex machine learning model to a smaller, more efficient one.

- Through model distillation, the app can now run advanced AI features directly on a smartphone.
- Knowledge distillation allows developers to deploy sophisticated neural networks on edge devices with limited computational resources without significant loss in accuracy.

## Examples

- The distillation of water removes salt and dirt.
- Whiskey production relies on the distillation of fermented grain mash to increase the alcohol content and refine the flavour profile.
- The author's latest essay is a masterful distillation of twenty years of research into a single, compelling argument about the future of urban planning.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.