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percolate

[ verb pur-kuh-leyt; noun pur-kuh-lit, -leyt ]
/ verb ˈpɜr kəˌleɪt; noun ˈpɜr kə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /
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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.
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Origin of percolate

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

how to pronounce percolate

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM percolate

per·co·la·ble, adjectiveper·co·la·tive, adjectiveun·per·co·lat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use percolate in a sentence

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 of percolate

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
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