penetrate
To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierceTo enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierce.
» Tom gave me a penetrating gaze.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
6 sensesTo enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierce.
Light penetrates darkness.
eindringen, penetrieren
проника́тьpronikátʹ, прони́кнутьproníknutʹ
проника́тиpronykáty, прони́кнутиpronýknuty
make one's way deeper into or through
(figuratively)To achieve understanding of, despite some obstacle; to comprehend; to understand.
I could not penetrate Burke's opaque rhetoric.
To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to move deeply.
to penetrate one's heart with pity
To infiltrate an enemy to gather intelligence.
To insert the penis into an orifice, such as a vagina, mouth, or anus.
a male elephant comes up and penetrates the female
penetrieren
insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
To move a piece past the defending pieces of one's opponent.
Examples
58 sentencesTom gave me a penetrating gaze.
The bullet penetrated the wall.
ruПуля пробила стену. — Wezel
A nail penetrated the car tyre.
Шину пробило цвяхом. — aandrusiak
A nail penetrated the car tire.
Шину пробило цвяхом. — aandrusiak
It took a long time for Japanese imports to penetrate the American consumer markets.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Latin penētrātus, perfect passive participle of penētrō (“to put, set, or place withiFrom Latin penētrātus, perfect passive participle of penētrō (“to put, set, or place within, enter, pierce, penetrate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from penes (“within, with”) by analogy to intrō (“to go in, enter”). Compare French pénétrer.
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Forms
penetrates, penetrating, penetrated, penetrated| Base form | penetrate · to penetrate |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | penetrates |
| Present participle | penetrating |
| Past simple | penetrated |
| Past participle | penetrated |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
18 synonyms- come to understand:fathombottom
- pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance:perforate
- enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members:infiltrate
- spread or diffuse through:permeatepervadeinterpenetratediffuseimbueriddle
- become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions:clickget throughdawncome homeget acrosssink infall into place
Word family
15 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle