51Թ

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View synonyms for

penetrate

[ pen-i-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

penetrated, penetrating.
  1. to pierce or pass into or through:

    The bullet penetrated the wall. The fog lights penetrated the mist.

  2. to enter the interior of:

    to penetrate a forest.

  3. to enter and diffuse itself through; permeate.
  4. to arrive at the truth or meaning of; understand; comprehend:

    to penetrate a mystery.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. to obtain a share of (a market):

    to penetrate the Canadian coffee market.

  6. to affect or impress (the mind or feelings) deeply.

    Synonyms:

  7. to extend influence, usually peacefully, into the affairs of (another country).


verb (used without object)

penetrated, penetrating.
  1. to enter, reach, or pass through something, as by piercing:

    We penetrated to the interior of the Kasbah.

  2. to be diffused through something.
  3. to understand or read the meaning of something.
  4. to have a deep effect or impact on someone.

penetrate

/ ˈɛɪˌٰɪ /

verb

  1. to find or force a way into or through (something); pierce; enter
  2. to diffuse through (a substance); permeate
  3. tr to see through

    their eyes could not penetrate the fog

  4. tr (of a man) to insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman)
  5. tr to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc)
  6. intr to be understood

    his face lit up as the new idea penetrated

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԱٰ, adverb
  • ˈԱٰپ, adjective
  • ˈԱٰ, adjective
  • ˈԱˌٰٴǰ, noun
  • ˌԱٰˈٲ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·ٰtǰ noun
  • ··ٰٱ verb (used with object) prepenetrated prepenetrating
  • ܲ··ٰe adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of penetrate1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin Աٰٳܲ “entered the interior of,” past participle of Աٰ “to enter the interior of,” from penet-, variant stem of penitus “deep down” + -, infinitive verb suffix, with the vowel change and addition of -r- probably by analogy with intus “iԲ,” Գٰ “to enter” ( enter ( def ) )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of penetrate1

C16: from Latin Աٰ; related to penitus inner, and penus the interior of a house
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Synonym Study

See pierce.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Another advantage of the longer wavelength of the Biomass satellite is that it can penetrate clouds giving a consistent, comparable view of a forest from one year to the next.

From

I never agreed with his politics, but his most penetrating social trait was how very forthcoming and honest he was with me, regarding everyone from Angela Davis to Gorbachev.

From

Penly told Carter, per the lawsuit, that she did not want to have sex, but the singer allegedly proceeded to “forcefully” penetrate her.

From

Once the blackout fog clears and the shame descends, Saxon allows some rare moments of vulnerability to penetrate his swaggering façade.

From

Appalled, Wynn-Williams tells them that this is not likely to go over well in every country Facebook wishes to penetrate.

From

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