penetrating
[ pen-i-trey-ting ]
/ ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪ tɪŋ /
adjective
able or tending to penetrate; piercing; sharp: a penetrating shriek; a penetrating glance.
acute; discerning: a penetrating observation.
Surgery.
noting a wound that pierces the skin, especially a deep wound entering an organ or body cavity.
Also
penetrant.
OTHER WORDS FROM penetrating
Words nearby penetrating
penetralia,
penetrance,
penetrant,
penetrant gene,
penetrate,
penetrating,
penetrating wound,
penetration,
penetration aid,
penetrative,
penetrometer
Definition for penetrating (2 of 2)
penetrate
[ pen-i-treyt ]
/ ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪt /
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
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, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for penetrating
British Dictionary definitions for penetrating (1 of 2)
penetrating
/ (ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪtɪŋ) /
adjective
tending to or able to penetrate
a penetrating mind; a penetrating voice
Derived forms of penetrating
penetratingly, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for penetrating (2 of 2)
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