Meaning

(transitive) To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter.
2. (intransitive) To drain or seep through a porous substance.
3. (transitive) To make (coffee) in a percolator.
4. (intransitive) (of coffee) to be prepared by percolation; (of a coffee pot) to brew coffee in this way.
5. (intransitive, figuratively) To spread slowly or gradually; to slowly become noticed or realised.
6. (rare) A liquid that has been percolated.

Example Sentences

Fluidextracts are liquid alcoholic preparations of uniform and definite strength, made by percolating drugs with menstrua, and concentrating a portion of the percolate […]

Water percolates through sand.

I'll percolate some coffee.

Boiled, percolated, pressed, or filtered, black coffee ranges from a light tea-like drink to deep black brew.

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.

[…] so that quite a perceptible interval of time elapsed before the true dimensions of the affront to his dignity commenced to percolate into the befogged and pain-racked convolutions of his brain.

Some are prepared to pay for placement; others use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) hoping their result percolates up the organic SERP.

Word Forms

• percolates
• percolating
• percolated

Synonyms for percolate

Related Words

When Should You Use Percolate?

Use percolate when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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