01 n. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.
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1.
The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.
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2.
That which falls in drops.[R.]
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3.
The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam.(Chem.)
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4.
The substance extracted by distilling.
Phrases & compounds
Destructive distillation —
the distillation, especially of complex solid substances, so that the ultimate constituents are separated or evolved in new compounds, -- usually requiring a high degree of heat; as, the destructive distillation of soft coal or of wood.
Dry distillation —
the distillation of substances by themselves, or without the addition of water or of other volatile solvent; as, the dry distillation of citric acid.
Fractional distillation —
See under Fractional.