perc
perc Lexical Profile
perc Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tablet of the prescription opioid painkiller Percocet, or a similar oxycodone-based analgesic (slang).
"The patient was warned about the high risk of dependency associated with taking percs after surgery."
A coffee percolator, or a water filtration chamber built into a smoking pipe (informal).
"She set the vintage aluminum perc on the camp stove to brew a fresh pot of coffee."
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), a colorless, volatile liquid solvent widely used in commercial dry cleaning.
"Many modern dry cleaners are phasing out perc in favor of environmentally friendly cleaning solvents."
The percussion section of a band or orchestra, or percussion instruments collectively (informal).
"The composer added extra rehearsal time for the perc players to master the complex polyrhythms."
• verb
To percolate, or to brew coffee in a percolator (informal).
"We listened to the coffee percing on the stove while we prepared breakfast."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse "perc" (a shortened form of "percolate", "percolator", or "Percocet") with its homophone "perk" (an employee benefit, or to become more lively, as in "perk up").
• Rhymes for perc
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 20th century by clipping the words "percolator", "percolate", "perchloroethylene", and the pharmaceutical trademark "Percocet".
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.