Dictionary

percolate

verb per·co·late \ˈpər-kə-ˌlāt, ÷-kyə-\

: to pass slowly through something that has many small holes in it

: to spread slowly

: to make (coffee) in a special pot (called a percolator)

per·co·lat·edper·co·lat·ing

Full Definition of PERCOLATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance (as a powdered drug) especially for extracting a soluble constituent
b :  to prepare (coffee) in a percolator
2
:  to be diffused through :  penetrate
intransitive verb
1
:  to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance :  seep
2
a :  to become percolated
b :  to become lively or effervescent
3
:  to spread gradually <allow the sunlight to percolate into our rooms — Norman Douglas>
4
:  simmer 2a <the feud had been percolating for a long time>
per·co·la·tion \ˌpər-kə-ˈlā-shən\ noun
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Origin of PERCOLATE

Latin percolatus, past participle of percolare, from per- through + colare to sieve — more at per-, colander
First Known Use: 1626

Related to PERCOLATE

Rhymes with PERCOLATE

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PERCOLATED Defined for Kids

percolate

verb per·co·late \ˈpər-kə-ˌlāt\
per·co·lat·edper·co·lat·ing

Definition of PERCOLATE for Kids

1
:  to trickle or cause to trickle through something porous :  ooze <Water percolated through sand.>
2
:  to prepare (coffee) by passing hot water through ground coffee beans again and again
per·co·la·tion \ˌpər-kə-ˈlā-shən\ noun
per·co·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun

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