percolate

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜkəʊleɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpəɹkoʊleɪt/

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percolate (third-person singular simple present percolates, present participle percolating, simple past and past participle percolated)

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.

• percolation
• percolator

percolate (plural percolates)

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

• prelocate

percolate

1. second-person plural present indicative of percolare
2. second-person plural imperative of percolare
3. feminine plural of percolato

percōlāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of percōlō