— distillatory /di stil"euh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , distillative /di stil"euh tiv/ , adj.
/dis'tl ay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. a product of distilling; distillate.
4. the act or fact of distilling or the state of being distilled.
[ 1350-1400; ME distillacioun ( distillation- (s. of distillatio ), equiv. to distillat ( us ) DISTILLATE + -ion- -ION ]