distill
To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects
Examples
In a meeting
“Can you distill the research findings into three key takeaways for the board?”
Over coffee
“Let me distill what the doctor said: rest more and drink water.”
Why this word
extract
Extract means to remove or take out; distill implies a refining process that separates essential elements from extraneous material, purifying to the core
summarize
Summarize means to condense main points; distill suggests extracting the purest essence or most essential truth, often through careful analysis
condense
Condense means to make more compact or concentrated; distill implies a more selective refinement process that isolates the fundamental or most important elements
Usage tip
Use when you need to simplify complex information into its core essence, particularly useful for summarizing lengthy reports or discussions
Etymology
Latin 'distillare' — de (down) + stillare (to drip), originally referring to extracting liquids drop by drop
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Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.