Percolate

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈpÉœkəʊleɪt/
• US IPA: /ˈpÉ™rkoÊŠleɪt/

Origin

From Latin percōlō ("I filter"), itself, from per ("through") + colō ("I strain") (from cōlum ("a strainer"), of unknown origin).

Full definition of percolate

Verb

1. (transitive) To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter.
2. (intransitive) To drain or seep through a porous substance.Water percolates through sand.
3. (transitive) To make (coffee) in a percolator.I'll percolate some coffee.
4. (intransitive, figuratively) To spread slowly or gradually; to slowly become noticed or realised.Reports on the pitiful state of many prisons have finally percolated through to the Home Office, which has promised to look into the situation.Through media reports it percolated to the surface that the police investigation was profoundly flawed.

Related terms

• percolation
• percolator

Noun

1. (rare) A liquid that has been percolated.