instill

in·still

transitive verb \in-ˈstil\

Definition of INSTILL

1

: to cause to enter drop by drop <instill medication into the infected eye>

2

: to impart gradually <instilling a love of learning in children>

— in·stil·la·tion \ˌin(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən, -(ˌ)sti-\ noun

— in·still·er \in-ˈsti-lər\ noun

— in·still·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of INSTILL

1. <a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause>

Origin of INSTILL

Middle English, from Latin instillare, from in- + stillare to drip, from stilla drop

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INSTILL

Synonyms

breed, enroot, inculcate, infix, inseminate, implant, plant, sow

Related Words

drive, hammer, pound; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), fix, lodge, root; imbue, infuse, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, steep, suffuse

See Synonym Discussion at implant

Rhymes with INSTILL

anthill, at will, backfill, ball mill, bluegill, Brazil, breast drill, cranesbill, crossbill, de Mille, dentil, de-skill, distill, doorsill, downhill, duckbill, dullsville, dunghill, fire drill, foothill, freewill, free will, gin mill, goodwill, gristmill, handbill, hawksbill, hornbill, Huntsville, ill will, Knoxville, lambkill, landfill, limekiln, manille, McGill, Melville, mixed grill, molehill, mudsill, Nashville, no-till, pep pill, per mill, playbill, pot still, pug mill, quadrille, red squill, refill, roadkill, sawmill, Schuylkill, self-will, Seville, sheathbill, shoebill, show bill, sidehill, sigil, spadille, spoonbill, stabile, standstill, stock-still, storksbill, T-bill, treadmill, true bill, twin bill, twist drill, until, uphill, vaudeville, waxbill, waybill, windchill, windmill, Zangwill

in·still

transitive verb \in-ˈstil\   (Medical Dictionary)

in·stilled; in·still·ing

Medical Definition of INSTILL

: to cause to enter especially drop by drop <instill medication into the infected eye>