First Known Use: 1626
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
Rhymes with PERCOLATE
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PERCOLATE 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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