definitions

percolate

[ verb pur-kuh-leyt; noun pur-kuh-lit, -leyt ]
/ verb ˈpɜr kəˌleɪt; noun ˈpɜr kə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR percolate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), per·co·lat·ed, per·co·lat·ing.

verb (used without object), per·co·lat·ed, per·co·lat·ing.

noun

a percolated liquid.

RELATED WORDS

filter, permeate, bubble, ooze, pervade, leach, drain, impregnate, perk, exude, saturate, strain, charge, sweat, transude, penetrate, weep, transfuse, bleed, filtrate

Nearby words

percival, perclose, percocet, percodan, percoid, percolate, percolation, percolator, percurrent, percuss, percussion

Origin of percolate

1620–30; < Latin percōlātus, past participle of percōlāre to filter. See per-, colander, -ate1

Related forms

per·co·la·ble, adjectiveper·co·la·tive, adjectiveun·per·co·lat·ed, adjective

Pronunciation note

The pronunciation of percolate as [pur-kyuh-leyt] /ˈpɜr kyəˌleɪt/, 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] /k/ is followed by some other vowel, the [y] /y/ represents a hypercorrection. The pronunciation of escalate as [es-kyuh-leyt] /ˈɛs kyəˌleɪt/ is another such example. See coupon, new.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for percolate

British Dictionary definitions for percolate

percolate

verb (ˈpɜːkəˌleɪt)

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; tricklerain percolated through the roof
to permeate; penetrate graduallywater percolated the road
(intr) US informal to become active or livelyshe percolated with happiness
to make (coffee) or (of coffee) to be made in a percolator

noun (ˈpɜːkəlɪt, -ˌleɪt)

a product of percolation

Derived Forms

percolable (ˈpɜːkələbəl), adjectivepercolation, nounpercolative, adjective

Word Origin for percolate

C17: from Latin percolāre, from per + cōlāre to strain, from cōlum a strainer; see colander
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for percolate

percolate

[ pûr′kə-lāt′ ]

v.

To cause a liquid to pass slowly through a porous substance or small holes; filter.
To drain or seep through.
To cause a solvent liquid to pass through a mixture, such as a powdered drug, so as to extract the soluble portion.

n.

A liquid that has been percolated.

Related forms

per′co•la′tion n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.