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percolate

Pronunciation: /ˈpəːkəleɪt/
Translate percolate | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of percolate

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance:the water percolating through the soil may leach out minerals
  • spread gradually through an area or group of people:continental ideas on art, science, and architecture percolated from Venice to London
  • 2 [no object] (of coffee) be prepared in a percolator:he put some coffee on to percolate
  • [with object] prepare (coffee) in a percolator: (as adjective percolated)freshly percolated coffee
  • [no object] US be or become full of lively activity or excitement:the night was percolating with an expectant energy

Derivatives

percolation

Pronunciation: /-ˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

Origin:

early 17th century: from Latin percolat- 'strained through', from the verb percolare, from per- 'through' + colare 'to strain' (from colum 'strainer')

percolate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of percolate in the US English dictionary
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