penetrate
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
penetrates;
penetrated;
penetrating
penetrates;
penetrated;
penetrating
Britannica Dictionary definition of PENETRATE
1
:
to go through or into something
[+ object]
-
These bullets can penetrate armor.
-
radiation penetrating the Earth's atmosphere
[no object]
-
The bullet failed to penetrate.
-
The heat penetrated through the wall.
-
The roots of these plants have been known to penetrate to a depth of more than 15 feet.
2
[+ object]
:
to see or show the way through (something)
-
Our eyes were unable to penetrate the darkness. [=we were unable to see through the darkness]
-
My car's headlights couldn't penetrate the dense fog.
-
They were unable to penetrate his disguise. [=to see or realize who he really was behind his disguise]
3
[+ object]
:
to succeed in becoming part of (an organization, a community, etc.)
-
The movie is about foreign agents who penetrate [=infiltrate] the CIA.
-
The company is trying to penetrate [=sell its products in] the U.S. market.
4
[+ object]
:
to succeed in understanding or finding (something)
-
scientists trying to penetrate the secrets hidden in our genes
-
attempting to penetrate the mysteries of human nature
5
:
to be understood or noticed by someone
[+ object]
-
The truth had not yet penetrated my consciousness. [=I had not yet realized the truth]
[no object]
-
The truth had not yet penetrated.
6
[+ object]
of a man
:
to put the penis into the vagina or the anus of (another person) during sex
