pen ‧ e ‧ trat ‧ ing /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ, ˈpenɪtreɪtɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . penetrating look/eyes/gaze etc a look etc which makes you feel uncomfortable and seems to see inside your mind:
a pair of penetrating dark eyes
He gave her a penetrating stare.
2 . showing an ability to understand things quickly and completely:
questions that are intelligent and penetrating
a penetrating analysis of the issue
3 . spreading and reaching everywhere:
the penetrating cold
4 . a penetrating sound is loud, clear, and often unpleasant:
a high, penetrating voice
—penetratingly adverb