percolate

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

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.

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun[edit]

percolate (plural percolates)

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

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Italian[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Verb[edit]

percolate

  1. inflection of percolare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2[edit]

Participle[edit]

percolate f pl

  1. feminine plural of percolato

Latin[edit]

Verb[edit]

percōlāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of percōlō

Spanish[edit]

Verb[edit]

percolate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of percolar combined with te