destructive distillation: Meaning and Definition of

destruc'tive distilla'tion

Pronunciation: [key]
— Chem. Chem.
  1. the decomposition of a substance, as wood or coal, by heating with a minimal exposure to air, and the collection of the volatile products formed.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.