[per.co.late] vb -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L percolatus, pp. of percolare, fr. per- through + colare to sieve--more at per-, colander] vt (1626) 1 a: to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance (as a powdered drug) esp. for extracting a soluble constituent b: to prepare (coffee) in a percolator
2: to be diffused through: penetrate ~ vi 1: to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance: seep
2. a: to become percolated b: to become lively or effervescent
3: to spread gradually "allow the sunlight to ~ into our rooms --Norman Douglas"
4: simmer 2a -- per.co.la.tion n