Perculate vs. Percolate — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Perculate" is incorrect; the right spelling is "percolate," which means to filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Perculate or Percolate
How to spell Percolate?
Perculate
Incorrect Spelling
Percolate
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Visualize the word "color" since the first four letters, "colo," are similar to the middle of "percolate."
Remember that "coffee percolators" help to filter coffee, reinforcing the "col" spelling.
Use a mnemonic: "To perCOLate is to COLlect through filtering."
Think of the word "colander," a kitchen tool used to filter or strain, which has "col" in it just like "percolate."
Associate "percolate" with the idea of a liquid "colliding" with a porous surface.
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How Do You Spell Percolate Correctly?
Incorrect: It took a while for the news to perculate to everyone in town.
Correct: It took a while for the news to percolate to everyone in town.
Incorrect: The idea began to perculate through his mind, slowly taking shape.
Correct: The idea began to percolate through his mind, slowly taking shape.
Incorrect: She waited for the coffee to perculate before pouring a cup.
Correct: She waited for the coffee to percolate before pouring a cup.
Incorrect: The culture of the company began to perculate into his work ethic.
Correct: The culture of the company began to percolate into his work ethic.
Percolate Definitions
To filter or pass slowly through a porous material.
The rainwater began to percolate through the sandy soil.
To spread or permeate gradually.
The news percolated through the town by morning.
To prepare (coffee) by passing hot water or steam through ground coffee beans.
He used an old-fashioned pot to percolate his morning coffee.
To cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance to extract a soluble constituent.
The chemist percolated the solvent through the mixture to separate the components.
To become active or lively; to begin to occur.
Ideas started to percolate in her mind after the discussion.
To cause (liquid, for example) to pass through a porous substance or small holes; filter.
To pass or ooze through
Water percolated the sand.
To make (coffee) in a percolator.
To drain or seep through a porous material or filter.
(Informal) To become lively or active.
(Informal) To spread slowly or gradually.
A liquid that has been percolated.
(transitive) To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter.
(intransitive) To drain or seep through a porous substance.
Water percolates through sand.
(transitive) To make (coffee) in a percolator.
''I'll percolate some coffee.
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.
(rare) A liquid that has been percolated.
To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain.
To pass through fine interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through porous stone.
The product of percolation
Permeate or penetrate gradually;
The fertilizer leached into the ground
Spread gradually;
Light percolated into our house in the morning
Prepare in a percolator;
Percolate coffee
Cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance in order to extract a soluble constituent
Pass through;
Water permeates sand easily
Gain or regain energy;
I picked up after a nap
Percolate Meaning in a Sentence
The news started to percolate through the office by lunchtime.
As the coffee began to percolate, the aroma filled the kitchen.
You can hear the water percolate when the coffeemaker is on.
Ideas need time to percolate before they fully develop.
Rainwater will percolate through the soil, nourishing the plants' roots.
He let the information percolate in his mind overnight.
She suggested letting the sauce percolate to enhance its flavors.
The sounds of the forest percolate through the air at dawn.
The artist lets his experiences percolate into his artwork.
I love watching the coffee percolate on a cold morning.
As the sun rose, the dew began to percolate into the air, creating a mist.
After the earthquake, rescue plans began to percolate among the community leaders.
You can see the steam percolate from the kettle when it's ready.
They designed the system to allow air to percolate to the roots.
New technology trends percolate into society gradually.
The practice of meditation allows peace to percolate through your mind.
She let the tea leaves percolate in hot water before serving.
Historical events percolate into novels and movies, influencing our perception.
As the investigation continued, details began to percolate into the public domain.
The rumor began to percolate among the students.
It’s fascinating to watch how cultural influences percolate through time.
Percolate Idioms & Phrases
Let it percolate
Give something time to develop or be thought over.
After our brainstorming session, we should let the ideas percolate overnight.
Percolate into
For a substance, idea, or feeling to penetrate or be absorbed.
The ethos of the company percolated into every project we undertook.
Percolate through
To spread gradually through an area or a group of people.
The new fashion trend slowly percolated through the city.
Percolate out
For information or a substance to leak out or become known.
Details of the confidential meeting percolated out despite the strict embargo.
Percolate up
For information or ideas to move up through an organization or group.
The employee's innovative solution percolated up to the management team.
Start to percolate
When something begins to become known or come to attention.
News of the upcoming product release has started to percolate among tech enthusiasts.
Percolate down
For information, ideas, or substances to move down through layers or levels.
The CEO's vision for the company slowly percolated down to all the employees.
Percolate across
To spread across different sectors or communities.
The grassroots movement began to percolate across national boundaries.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Percolate?
It's derived from the Latin word "percolare," which means "to strain through."
What is the root word of Percolate?
The root word is the Latin "percolare."
What is the verb form of Percolate?
The verb form is "percolate."
What is the plural form of Percolate?
The term "percolate" doesn't have a typical plural form since it's primarily a verb. However, in rare contexts as a noun, it could be "percolates."
What is the pronunciation of Percolate?
It is pronounced as /ˈpɜːrkəleɪt/.
What is the singular form of Percolate?
The singular form is "percolate."
Is Percolate an abstract noun?
No, when "percolate" is used as a noun, it's not abstract.
Is Percolate a negative or positive word?
It's neutral; it doesn't inherently carry a negative or positive connotation.
Which vowel is used before Percolate?
The context determines the vowel, but commonly "a" as in "a percolate."
Which preposition is used with Percolate?
"Through" as in "water percolates through soil."
Which conjunction is used with Percolate?
Any conjunction can be used with "percolate" depending on the sentence structure.
Is Percolate a vowel or consonant?
"Percolate" is a word, not a single letter. Thus, it contains both vowels and consonants.
Is Percolate a collective noun?
No, it's not a collective noun.
Is the word Percolate imperative?
It can be used in the imperative mood, as in "Let it percolate."
Is the word Percolate a Gerund?
"Percolating" is the gerund form.
What is a stressed syllable in Percolate?
The first syllable "per" is stressed.
Is Percolate a noun or adjective?
"Percolate" is primarily a verb, but it can be used as a noun in specific contexts.
How do we divide Percolate into syllables?
It can be divided as per-co-late.
Is the word “Percolate” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Percolate" can function as a direct object in a sentence, depending on its usage.
What is the third form of Percolate?
The third form is also "percolated."
How is Percolate used in a sentence?
"The fresh rainwater began to percol
Which article is used with Percolate?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on the context.
Is the Percolate term a metaphor?
By itself, no. But it can be used metaphorically in specific contexts.
Which determiner is used with Percolate?
Determiners like "the," "this," or "some" can be used, depending on the context.
What is the second form of Percolate?
The second form is "percolated."
Is Percolate an adverb?
No, "percolate" is not an adverb.
Is Percolate a countable noun?
When used as a noun, it's typically uncountable.
How many syllables are in Percolate?
There are three syllables in "percolate."
What part of speech is Percolate?
"Percolate" is primarily a verb.
What is another term for Percolate?
Another term could be "filter."
What is the opposite of Percolate?
There isn't a direct opposite, but "contain" or "hold" might be considered antonyms in certain contexts.
What is the first form of Percolate?
The first form is "percolate."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
