Advertisement
Advertisement
View synonyms for percolate
percolate
[ verb pur-kuh-leyt; noun pur-kuh-lit, -leyt ]
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
Discover More
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.
Discover More
Derived Forms
- ˈpercolative, adjective
- ˌpercoˈlation, noun
- percolable, adjective
Discover More
Other Words From
- perco·la·ble adjective
- perco·lative adjective
- un·perco·lated adjective
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of percolate1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of percolate1
C17: from Latin percolāre, from per + cōlāre to strain, from cōlum a strainer; see colander
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse