1. the slow passage of a liquid through a filtering medium - the percolation of rainwater through the soil - the infiltration of seawater through the lava • Syn: infiltration • Derivationally related forms: infiltrate (for: infiltration), percolate • Hypernyms: filtration 2. the act of making coffee in a percolator • Derivationally related forms: percolate • Hypernyms: cooking, cookery, preparation 3. the filtration of a liquid for extraction or purification • Derivationally related forms: percolate • Hypernyms: filtration