verb
percolate
PUR-kuh-layt/ˈpɜːrkəleɪt/
To pass slowly through porous material.
Water percolates through the sand and emerges in droplets below.
Etymology
The pieces describe straining something through a filter. The English verb also came to describe the liquid's own movement through small openings, the basis of filtering through porous material.
In context
start to percolate through some of this rock there's actually some brick passage under this little Bridge here and then water will flow down into this depression
More examples
- Water percolated through the sand and collected below.
- Hot water is percolating through the coffee grounds.
- Compacted soil makes it harder for water to percolate.
Forms
percolate · percolates · percolated · percolating
percolation noun — The slow passage of liquid through porous material.
percolator noun — A coffeepot that circulates water through coffee grounds.