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Percolate: meaning, definitions and examples

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percolate

 

[ ˈpɜːrkəleɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

coffee brewing process

To percolate means to filter through or penetrate gradually. In the context of coffee brewing, percolate refers to the process of boiling water through coffee grounds to extract flavor.

Synonyms

filter, penetrate, seep.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
percolate

Used mainly to describe a process where a liquid slowly passes through a substance or an idea spreads gradually.

  • Over time, the new policies began to percolate through the organization.
  • You can taste the difference when you allow coffee to percolate slowly.
filter

Commonly used when a liquid or gas is cleaned by passing through a material, or when unwanted elements are removed from a group or data set.

  • You need to filter the water to remove any impurities.
  • The company filters job applications to find the most qualified candidates.
penetrate

Often used to describe something forcefully entering or breaking through a surface or barrier. Also used for concepts or influences that have a strong impact.

  • The bullet was able to penetrate the thick armor.
  • His words penetrated deep into her heart.
seep

Used when a liquid slowly escapes through small openings or spreads gradually and quietly.

  • Water began to seep through the cracks in the basement wall.
  • Sadness seemed to seep into every corner of the room.

Examples of usage

  • The coffee machine percolates the water through the coffee grounds to make a strong brew.
  • After percolating for several minutes, the coffee is ready to be served.
  • Percolating coffee results in a rich and aromatic beverage.
  • The percolation process is essential for extracting the full flavor of the coffee beans.
  • Many coffee enthusiasts prefer the percolation method for brewing their morning cup.
Context #2 | Verb

information spreading

To percolate can also mean to spread gradually through an area or group of people. It is often used in the context of information or ideas spreading slowly but steadily.

Synonyms

circulate, disseminate, spread.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
percolate

Typically used to describe a process of something gradually seeping or filtering through a substance or spreading slowly and subtly. Often used in scientific or casual contexts to describe ideas, emotions, or fluids.

  • The smell of coffee began to percolate through the room.
  • Over time, new ideas began to percolate through the organization.
spread

A versatile term used to describe the act of distributing or expanding something over a wide area. Can be used in a variety of contexts, both formal and casual, including emotions, news, diseases, and more.

  • She spread the butter evenly on the toast.
  • The news of their engagement spread quickly through social media.
circulate

Describes the movement or flow of something, such as information, air, or objects, in a closed system or environment. Commonly used in formal or casual contexts, especially related to news, rumors, or fluids.

  • In the winter, it's important to circulate the air in your home.
  • Rumors about the merger began to circulate among the employees.
disseminate

Usually used in formal contexts to describe the act of spreading information, knowledge, or ideas widely to a large audience.

  • The organization aims to disseminate information about health and wellness.
  • Scholars disseminate their research findings through academic journals.

Examples of usage

  • The news of the election results percolated through the crowd, causing mixed reactions.
  • The new trend started to percolate among the youth before becoming mainstream.
  • Rumors began to percolate in the office about upcoming changes.
  • Information tends to percolate faster in the age of social media.
  • Her innovative ideas percolated through the industry, inspiring others to follow suit.

Translations

Translations of the word "percolate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 percolar

🇮🇳 छानना

🇩🇪 durchsickern

🇮🇩 merembes

🇺🇦 просочуватися

🇵🇱 przesączać się

🇯🇵 浸透する (shintō suru)

🇫🇷 s'infiltrer

🇪🇸 percolar

🇹🇷 sızmak

🇰🇷 스며들다 (seumyeodeulda)

🇸🇦 تسرب

🇨🇿 prosakovat

🇸🇰 presakovať

🇨🇳 渗透 (shèntòu)

🇸🇮 prepuščati

🇮🇸 síast inn

🇰🇿 сіңу

🇬🇪 გადაწურვა (gadatsurva)

🇦🇿 sızmaq

🇲🇽 percolar

Etymology

The word 'percolate' originated from the Latin word 'percolatus', which means 'filtered through'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. The term was initially used in the context of liquids filtering through porous substances. Over time, the meaning expanded to include the gradual spreading or filtering of various substances or information. Today, 'percolate' is commonly associated with coffee brewing and the slow spread of ideas or information.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,768, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.