— percolable , adj. — percolative , adj.
v. /perr"keuh layt'/ ; n. /perr"keuh lit, -layt'/ , v. , percolated, percolating , n.
v.t.
1. to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.
2. (of a liquid) to filter through; permeate.
3. to brew (coffee) in a percolator.
v.i.
4. to pass through a porous substance; filter; ooze; seep; trickle.
5. to become percolated: The coffee is starting to percolate.
6. to become active, lively, or spirited.
7. to show activity, movement, or life; grow or spread gradually; germinate: Interest in the idea has begun to percolate.
n.
8. a percolated liquid.
[ 1620-30; percolatus, ptp. of percolare to filter. See PER-, COLANDER, -ATE 1 ]
Pronunciation . The pronunciation of PERCOLATE as /perr"kyeuh layt'/ , with an intrusive y -glide, results from analogy with words like circulate and matriculate, where the unstressed vowel following the k -sound is symbolized by a u spelling, making the y -glide mandatory. In similar words where /k/ is followed by some other vowel, the /y/ represents a hypercorrection. The pronunciation of escalate as /es"kyeuh layt'/ is another such example. See coupon, new .