View synonyms for percolate

percolate

[ verb pur-kuh-leyt; noun pur-kuh-lit, -leyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, per·co·lat·ed, per·co·lat·ing.

to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.
(of a liquid) to filter through; permeate.
to brew (coffee) in a percolator.

verb (used without object)

, per·co·lat·ed, per·co·lat·ing.

to pass through a porous substance; filter; ooze; seep; trickle.
to become percolated:
The coffee is starting to percolate.
to become active, lively, or spirited.
to show activity, movement, or life; grow or spread gradually; germinate:
Interest in the idea has begun to percolate.

noun

a percolated liquid.

percolate

/ ˈpɜːkələbəl /

verb

to cause (a liquid) to pass through a fine mesh, porous substance, etc, or (of a liquid) to pass through a fine mesh, porous substance, etc; trickle
rain percolated through the roof
to permeate; penetrate gradually
water percolated the road
informal.
intr to become active or lively
she percolated with happiness
to make (coffee) or (of coffee) to be made in a percolator

noun

a product of percolation

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Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of percolate as [pur, -ky, uh, -leyt], with an intrusive y -glide, results from analogy with words like circulate and matriculate, where the unstressed vowel following the k -sound is symbolized by a u spelling, making the y -glide mandatory. In similar words where [k] is followed by some other vowel, the [y] represents a hypercorrection. The pronunciation of escalate as [es, -ky, uh, -leyt] is another such example. See coupon, new.

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Derived Forms

ˈpercolative, adjective
ˌpercoˈlation, noun
percolable, adjective

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Other Words From

perco·la·ble adjective
perco·lative adjective
un·perco·lated adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of percolate¹

1620–30; < Latin percōlātus, past participle of percōlāre to filter. See per-, colander, -ate ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of percolate¹

C17: from Latin percolāre, from per + cōlāre to strain, from cōlum a strainer; see colander

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