percolate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the product of percolation
  2. verb permeate or penetrate gradually
    leach.
    • the fertilizer leached into the ground
  3. verb spread gradually
    • Light percolated into our house in the morning
  4. verb prepare in a percolator
    • percolate coffee
  5. verb cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance in order to extract a soluble constituent
  6. verb pass through
    filter; permeate; sink in.
    • Water permeates sand easily
  7. verb gain or regain energy
    perk; pick up; perk up; gain vigor.
    • I picked up after a nap

WordNet

Per"co*late transitive verb
Etymology
L. percolatus, p.p. of percolare to percolate; per through + colare to strain.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Percolated ; present participle & verbal noun Percolating
Definitions
  1. To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain. Sir M. Hale.
Per"co*late intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pass through fine interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through porous stone.

Webster 1913