penetrate

[ pen-i-treyt ]
/ ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR penetrate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), pen·e·trat·ed, pen·e·trat·ing.

verb (used without object), pen·e·trat·ed, pen·e·trat·ing.

Origin of penetrate

1520–30; < Latin penetrātus (past participle of penetrāre), equivalent to penet-, variant stem of penitus deep down + -r- (probably by analogy with intus inside: intrāre to enter) + -ātus + -ate1

synonym study for penetrate

1. See pierce.

OTHER WORDS FROM penetrate

pen·e·tra·tor, noun pre·pen·e·trate, verb (used with object), pre·pen·e·trat·ed, pre·pen·e·trat·ing. un·pen·e·trat·ed, adjective

Words nearby penetrate

penetrable, penetralia, penetrance, penetrant, penetrant gene, penetrate, penetrating, penetrating wound, penetration, penetration aid, penetrative

Words related to penetrate

permeate, drill, seep, crack, pervade, puncture, enter, invade, infiltrate, touch, affect, fathom, force, spear, probe, trespass, bore, suffuse, access, charge

Example sentences from the Web for penetrate

British Dictionary definitions for penetrate

penetrate
/ (ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪt) /

verb

to find or force a way into or through (something); pierce; enter
to diffuse through (a substance); permeate
(tr) to see through their eyes could not penetrate the fog
(tr) (of a man) to insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman)
(tr) to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc)
(intr) to be understood his face lit up as the new idea penetrated

Derived forms of penetrate

Word Origin for penetrate

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