ˌpenə.ˈtrāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin penetration-, penetratio, from penetratus (past participle of penetrare ) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act or process of penetrating
Indian groups … angered by the constant penetrations of whites into their new territories — P.W.Gates
the penetration of the theater by scholarship and taste — R.W.Speaight
as
a. : the act (as of a foreign diplomatic or commerical body) of entering a country so continued or repeated that actual establishment of influence is accomplished
b. : an attack that drives a wedge into or through the enemy's front
when the situation does not favor an envelopment, the main attack is directed toward a penetration — C.E.Welsh
c. : flight in air warfare over enemy territory and through enemy air defenses to attack ground targets
a shallow penetration mission
penetration tactics
a penetration fighter
2.
a. : the depth to which something penetrates ; specifically : the depth to which a projectile sinks into any substance at which it is fired
b. : the power or ability to penetrate or its manifestation : penetrativeness
used a lighter oil for its superior penetration
the human eye aided by telescopes and microscopes of ever greater penetration
specifically : the ability to discern acutely the inner nature or meaning of something or the resulting perceptive quality of expression (as in a written work)
a writer who analyzes the underlying causes with great penetration
good little novels, full of Gallic irony and penetration — Time
c. : depth of field (as of a microscope)
d. : the extent to which a commercial product or agency is familiar or sells in a market
the manufacturer's view of the dealer's performance is based on penetration of the market — Hartley Howe
3. : the intersection of a minor architectural form and a major one
the penetration of a minor vault with a main vault
4. : the penetrability of a bituminous material expressed as the distance that a standard needle vertically penetrates a sample of the material under known conditions of loading, time, and temperature