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Percolate vs Lixiviate - What's the difference?

percolate | lixiviate |

As verbs the difference between percolate and lixiviate

is that percolate is to pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter while lixiviate is to separate (a substance) into soluble and insoluble components through percolation; to leach.

As a noun percolate

is (rare) a liquid that has been percolated.

As an adjective lixiviate is

of or relating to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts.

percolate

English

Verb

  • To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter.
  • To drain or seep through a porous substance.
    • Water percolates through sand.
  • To make (coffee) in a percolator.
    • I'll percolate some coffee.
  • (figuratively) 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.

    Related terms

    * percolation * percolator

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rare) A liquid that has been percolated.

    • lixiviate

    English

    Verb

  • To separate (a substance) into soluble and insoluble components through percolation; to leach.
  • *

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or relating to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts.
  • Impregnated with salts from wood ashes.
    • (Boyle)
    (Webster 1913)