penetrate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
    perforate.
    • The bullet penetrated her chest
  2. verb come to understand
    fathom; bottom.
  3. verb become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
    get through; get across; sink in; come home; fall into place; dawn; click.
    • It dawned on him that she had betrayed him
    • she was penetrated with sorrow
  4. verb enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
    infiltrate.
    • The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor
  5. verb make one's way deeper into or through
    • The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest
  6. verb insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
    • Did the molester penetrate the child?
  7. verb spread or diffuse through
    riddle; permeate; interpenetrate; pervade; diffuse; imbue.
    • An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration
    • music penetrated the entire building
    • His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks

WordNet

Pen"e*trate transitive verb
Etymology
L. penetratus, p.p. of penetrare to penetrate; akin to penitus inward, inwardly, and perh. to pens with, in the power of, penus store of food, innermost part of a temple.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Penetrated ; present participle & verbal noun Penetrating
Definitions
  1. To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to effect an entrance into; to pierce; as, light penetrates darkness.
  2. To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to move deeply; as, to penetrate one's heart with pity. Shak.
    The translator of Homer should penetrate himself with a sense of the plainness and directness of Homer's style. M. Arnold.
  3. To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult subject; to comprehend; to understand.
    Things which here were too subtile for us to penetrate. Ray.
Pen"e*trate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pass; to make way; to pierce. Also used figuratively.
    Preparing to penetrate to the north and west. J. R. Green.
    Born where Heaven's influence scarce can penetrate. Pope.
    The sweet of life that penetrates so near. Daniel.

Webster 1913