Distillation /(dĭs`tĭl*lā"shŭn)/

Dis·til·la·tion

Distillation

n.
  1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.
  2. That which falls in drops. [R.]
  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.)
  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.