/ ˈpenɪtreɪt; NAmE / verb
1.
penetrate (into / through / to) sth to go into or through sth :
[ vn ]
The knife had penetrated his chest.
The sun's radiation penetrates the skin.
( figurative )
The war penetrates every area of the nation's life.
[ v ]
These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs.
2.
to succeed in entering or joining an organization, a group, etc. especially when this is difficult to do :
[ vn ]
They had penetrated airport security.
The party has been penetrated by extremists.
This year the company has been trying to penetrate new markets (= to start selling their products there) .
[ v ]
The troops had penetrated deep into enemy lines.
3.
[ vn ] to see or show a way into or through sth :
Our eyes could not penetrate the darkness.
The flashlights barely penetrated the gloom.
4.
[ vn ] to understand or discover sth that is difficult to understand or is hidden :
Science can penetrate many of nature's mysteries.
5.
to be understood or realized by sb :
[ v ]
I was at the door before his words penetrated.
[ vn ]
None of my advice seems to have penetrated his thick skull (= he has not listened to any of it) .
6.
[ vn ] ( of a man ) to put the penis into the vagina or anus of a sexual partner
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin penetrat- placed or gone into, from the verb penetrare ; related to penitus inner.