percolate

American  

[pur-kuh-leyt, pur-kuh-lit, -leyt] / ˈpɜr kəˌleɪt, ˈpɜr kə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

percolated, percolating

1. to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.

2. (of a liquid) to filter through; permeate.

3. to brew (coffee) in a percolator.

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verb (used without object)

percolated, percolating

1. to pass through a porous substance; filter; ooze; seep; trickle.

2. to become percolated.

   The coffee is starting to percolate.

3. to become active, lively, or spirited.

4. to show activity, movement, or life; grow or spread gradually; germinate.

   Interest in the idea has begun to percolate.

noun

1. a percolated liquid.

percolate British  

/ ˈpɜːkələbəl /

verb

1. 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

2. to permeate; penetrate gradually

   water percolated the road

3. informal  (intr) to become active or lively

   she percolated with happiness

4. to make (coffee) or (of coffee) to be made in a percolator

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noun

1. a product of percolation

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of percolate as , 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 is followed by some other vowel, the represents a hypercorrection. The pronunciation of escalate as is another such example. See coupon, new.

Other Word Forms

• percolable adjective
• percolation noun
• percolative adjective
• unpercolated adjective

Etymology

Origin of percolate

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

Example Sentences

News of the possible sale had percolated since last year, as Starbucks’ business in China faltered.

From MarketWatch

Even though, as she sings on the percolating title track, her autism means she's often "acting" in ways that she's learned people will expect.

From BBC

“Liberation” percolates with lively humor, as when Lizzie introduces herself as a journalist who writes “obituaries and weddings—which in a way are the same thing.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Concerns about a slowing job market, the financial health of lower-income households and potential asset bubbles are percolating.

From The Wall Street Journal

For some, it’s a last hurrah, the culmination of ideas that had been percolating for years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bubble
• filter
• ooze
• permeate
• pervade