penetratepen‧e‧trate /ˈpenətreɪt/ ●○○ verb 
bullets that penetrate thick armour plating Sunlight barely penetrated the dirty windows.penetrate into Explorers penetrated deep into unknown regions.2business [transitive] to start to sell things to an area or country, or to have an influence there: Few U.S. companies have successfully penetrated the Japanese electronics market.3organization [transitive] to succeed in becoming accepted into a group or an organization, sometimes in order to find out their secrets: KGB agents had penetrated most of their intelligence services.4understand formal a)[transitive] to succeed in understanding something: Science has penetrated the mysteries of nature. b)[intransitive, transitive] to be understood, with difficulty: What could I say that would penetrate his thick skull?5sex [transitive] if a man penetrates someone, he puts his penis into a woman’s vagina or into someone’s anus when having sex6see through [transitive] to see into or through something when this is difficult: My eyes couldn’t penetrate the gloom.
WORD ORIGINpenetrate
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin past participle of penetrareVERB TABLE
penetrate
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | penetrate |
| he, she, it | penetrates | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | penetrated |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have penetrated |
| he, she, it | has penetrated | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had penetrated |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will penetrate |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have penetrated |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am penetrating |
| he, she, it | is penetrating | |
| you, we, they | are penetrating | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was penetrating |
| you, we, they | were penetrating | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been penetrating |
| he, she, it | has been penetrating | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been penetrating |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be penetrating |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been penetrating |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dario was attempting to penetrate Nature's mysteries.
- He threw a grenade that penetrated the wall of the building and exploded inside.
- Islam has penetrated vast parts of Africa and Asia.
- Spies had penetrated the highest ranks of both governments.
- The barbed wire fences and security shields made the air base very difficult to penetrate.
- The bomb penetrated the wall and exploded inside the building.
- The fall weather outside penetrated the room.
- The sun's rays can penetrate the sea to a depth of twenty metres.
- Among computer buyers, the least penetrated group is households earning less than $ 30, 000 a year.
- As a general rule, the older and more stable the community, the more difficult it is to penetrate.
- But eventually the staff penetrated her resistance and the girl learned to write.
- Federal law on segregation had been changed in 1960; the news had yet to penetrate below the Mason-Dixon line.
- For years, federal law enforcement officials were reluctant to penetrate the movement.
- However, laboratory tests show that Gore-Text can be penetrated by prolonged exposure to rain.
- It may then penetrate the side of a tank or fly over the top.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something enters a space, especially through a surface
· The bullet entered his rib cage from the left side.enter through/by etc · Bacteria can enter through a cut or graze on the skin.
if something penetrates an object or substance, it fully enters it, or goes through it: · The sun's rays can penetrate the sea to a depth of twenty metres.· He threw a grenade that penetrated the wall of the building and exploded inside.
if liquid seeps in , it gradually enters a substance or a place: · Despite all our efforts to stop it, the floodwater was still seeping in.seep into something: · Chemicals from the plant have seeped into the city's water supply.
if a liquid or gas permeates an object or substance it enters it and spreads through it: · Toxic chemicals may permeate the soil, threatening the environment.
to enter a place illegally or by using force · A man was arrested for trying to enter the actress's Beverly Hills home.enter through/by etc · It appears the burglars entered through a back window.
to succeed in entering a room, building, or area which is locked or difficult to enter, especially by using force or by finding an unusual way in: · How did you get in? I thought the door was locked.· Some animals hadn't gotten in the shed and made a mess.get into something: · Thieves had apparently got into the apartments by posing as electricians.
to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something: · If anyone tries to break in, the alarm will go off.break into something: · Thieves broke into the gallery and made off with paintings valued at over $2 million.
if someone, especially criminals or the police gain entry or gain access , they succeed in entering a locked building or room, especially by using force: · The police gained entry by smashing down the door.gain entry/gain access to: · Somehow the woman had gained access to his dressing room and was waiting there when he came off the stage.
to enter a building or room by using force, especially when someone is trying to stop you: · They've blocked the door. We'll have to force our way in.force your way into something: · Police eventually forced their way into the building and arrested the gunman.
the crime of entering a place illegally, especially with the intention of stealing something: · You can't just go into his apartment when he's not there - that's breaking and entering.· He was caught in the school at night and has been charged with breaking and entering.
to illegally enter or be on someone's land or in a building without permission from the owner: · Get out of the yard! Can't you see the sign? It says "No Trespassing."trespass on: · Carlson was fined $1000 for trespassing on government property.
to enter an area that is well guarded or dangerous to enter - used especially in a military context: · The barbed wire fences and security shields made the air base very difficult to penetrate.
WORD SETSAB, nounabdomen, nounaccommodation, nounAchilles tendon, nounAdam's apple, nounadaptation, nounadenoids, nounadrenalin, nounairway, nounambidextrous, adjectiveanatomical, adjectiveankle, nounantibody, nounantigen, nounanus, nounanvil, nounaorta, nounappendix, nounarch, nounarmpit, nounarterial, adjectiveartery, nounatrium, nounbaby tooth, nounback, nounbackbone, nounbandy, adjectivebarrel-chested, adjectivebeat, verbbelly, nounbelly button, nounbicep, nounbig toe, nounbikini line, nounbile, nounbiological clock, nounbiorhythms, nounbiped, nounbladder, nounblind spot, nounblink, verbblink, nounblood count, nounblood group, nounblood pressure, nounbloodstream, nounblood type, nounblood vessel, nounBO, nounbody clock, nounbody odour, nounbone, nounbone marrow, nounbowel, nounbow legs, nounbrain, nounbrainwave, nounbreast, nounbreastbone, nounbristly, adjectivebronchial, adjectivebronchial tube, nounbrow, nounbuck teeth, nounbullnecked, adjectiveburp, verbbust, nounbuttock, nouncanine, nouncapillary, nouncardiac, adjectivecardio-, prefixcardiovascular, adjectivecarotid artery, nouncartilage, nouncentral nervous system, nouncerebellum, nouncerebral, adjectivecervical, adjectivecervix, nounchamber, nounchange of life, nouncheek, nouncheekbone, nounchest, nounchin, nouncirculation, nounclavicle, nouncleavage, nounclitoris, nounclose-set, adjectivecoccyx, nouncochlea, nouncock, nouncollarbone, nouncolon, nouncolour, nouncolour-blind, adjectiveconception, nouncone, nounconnective tissue, nouncoordination, nouncornea, nouncortex, nouncough, verbcough, nouncowlick, nouncranium, nouncrook, verbcrotch, nouncrow's feet, nouncrutch, nouncry, verbcuticle, noundandruff, noundeep-set, adjectivedefecate, verbdefence mechanism, noundental, adjectivedentine, nounderrière, noundiaphragm, noundigit, noundigital, adjectivedimple, noundisc, noundominant, adjectivedouble-jointed, adjectivedribble, verbdrool, verbduct, nounduodenum, nounear, nouneardrum, nounearhole, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbelbow, nounenamel, nounendocrine, adjectiveentrails, nounepidermis, nounepiglottis, nounerect, adjectiveerection, nounerogenous zone, nounexcrement, nounexcreta, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexpectorate, verbextremity, nouneye, nouneyebrow, nouneyelash, nouneyelid, nouneyesight, nouneye tooth, nounface, nounfallopian tube, nounfart, verbfart, nounfemur, nounfibre, nounfibula, nounfigure, nounfingernail, nounfingertip, nounfist, nounfive o'clock shadow, nounflat-chested, adjectivefoetal position, nounfolic acid, nounfollicle, nounforearm, nounforefinger, nounforehead, nounforeskin, nounframe, nounfunny bone, noungall bladder, noungallstone, noungastric, adjectivegenital, adjectivegenitals, noungland, nounglottis, noungonad, noungrey matter, noungroin, nounG-spot, noungullet, noungum, nounhair, nounhairless, adjectivehairy, adjectivehammer, nounhamstring, nounhand, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandlebar moustache, nounhead, nounheart, nounheel, nounhiccup, nounhiccup, verbhip, nounHomo sapiens, nounhumerus, nounhymen, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nouninbred, adjectiveincisor, nounindex finger, nouninherit, verbinstep, nounintestine, nounin vitro fertilization, nouniris, nounIVF, nounjaw, nounjawbone, nounjowl, nounkidney, nounknee, nounknee cap, nounknuckle, nounlap, nounlarge intestine, nounlarynx, nounlash, nounlaugh lines, nounlaughter lines, nounleft-handed, adjectivelefty, nounlens, nounlid, nounlifeblood, nounligament, nounlip, nounlittle finger, nounliver, nounlobe, nounlong-sighted, adjectivelumbar, adjectivelung, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmammary, adjectivemammary gland, nounmanual, adjectivemarrow, nounmasticate, verbmatrix, nounmelanin, nounmelatonin, nounmember, nounmenopause, nounmenses, nounmenstrual, adjectivemenstrual period, nounmenstruate, verbmiddle ear, nounmiddle finger, nounmidget, nounmidriff, nounmilk tooth, nounmind, nounmolar, nounmucous membrane, nounmuscle, nounnail, nounnape, nounnasal, adjectivenavel, nounnervous, adjectiveneurology, nounneuron, nounniacin, nounnipple, nounnode, nounnodule, nounnostril, nounocular, adjectiveoesophagus, nounoral, adjectiveovary, nounoverbite, nounoviduct, nounpalate, nounpalm, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpancreas, nounpassage, nounpatella, nounpectorals, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenetrate, verbpepsin, nounperiod, nounperiod pain, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphallus, nounpharynx, nounphlegm, nounphysical, adjectivephysiognomy, nounphysiology, nounphysique, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepit, nounpituitary, nounplacenta, nounplasma, nounplatelet, nounpore, nounpotbelly, nounpremenstrual, adjectiveprepubescent, adjectivepressure point, nounprimal, adjectiveprivate parts, nounprognathous, adjectiveprostate, nounpuberty, nounpubescent, adjectivepubic, adjectivepudendum, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulse, nounpupil, nounquad, nounquadruplet, nounquin, nounquintuplet, nounradius, nounreceptor, nounrecessive, adjectiverectal, adjectiverectum, nounred blood cell, nounREM sleep, nounrenal, adjectiveretina, nounRhesus factor, nounRH factor, nounrib, nounrib cage, nounright, adjectiveright-handed, adjectiveright-hander, nounrigor mortis, nounring finger, nounrod, nounRoman nose, nounround-shouldered, adjectiverun, verbsalivary gland, nounsallow, adjectivescalp, nounscaly, adjectivescapula, nounsciatic, adjectivescrotum, nounsemen, nounseminal, adjectivesense, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectivesextuplet, nounshank, nounshin, nounshinbone, nounshoulder, nounshoulder blade, nounside, nounsinew, nounsinus, nounskeletal, adjectiveskull, nounsleep, verbsleep, nounsmall intestine, nounsneeze, verbsneeze, nounsnub nose, nounsnub-nosed, adjectivesoft palate, nounsolar plexus, nounsole, nounsphincter, nounspinal, adjectivespinal column, nounspine, nounspit, verbspit, nounspittle, nounspleen, nounspotty, adjectivesputum, nounsternum, nounsteroid, nounstirrup, nounstomach, nounstool, nounstubble, nounsubcutaneous, adjectivesuck, verbsuckle, verbsuckling, nounsweat gland, nounsystem, nountailbone, nountan, verbtan, nountanned, adjectivetarsus, nountartar, nountaste bud, nountear, nounteardrop, nounteat, nountemple, nountendon, nountestes, nountesticle, nountestis, nountestosterone, nounthickset, adjectivethigh, nounthorax, nounthroat, nounthumb, nounthumbnail, nounthyroid, nountibia, nounticklish, adjectivetoe, nountoenail, nountongue, nountonsil, nountooth, nountorso, nountouch, nountrachea, nountriceps, nountrunk, nountympanum, nounulna, nounumbilical cord, nounurethra, nounuterus, nounuvula, nounvagina, nounvascular, adjectivevein, nounvenous, adjectiveventricle, nounvessel, nounvestibule, nounvital, adjectivevocal cords, nounvoice box, nounvulva, nounwaist, nounwall-eyed, adjectivewax, nounwhite, nounwhite blood cell, nounwindpipe, nounwisdom tooth, nounwomb, nounwrinkle, verbwrist, nounyawn, verbyawn, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY What could I say that would penetrate his thick skull?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1go through [intransitive, transitive] to enter something and pass or spread through it, especially when this is difficult: What could I say that would penetrate his thick skull?· At their heart is the Cheddar Gorge and the famous show caves penetrating deep into the hills.· Those affirmations penetrated deep inside me, filling me with gratitude.· Although they did not succeed in holding much territory, they proved their ability to penetrate deep into SOC-held territory.· Such particles are considered dangerous because they penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can cause disease.
· Top growth will be dead, but frosts are unlikely to have penetrated deeply.
· Had they even penetrated the licensed taxicabs of London?· Maybe that had even penetrated his thick skull.· With the old keys Charley had penetrated even to her bedroom.· We had even penetrated the ice.· They might have been alone in the mountains, because the passing traffic never even penetrated their minds.
NOUN· The weak, fast-moving, easily ablated comets do not penetrate the atmosphere very deeply.· Even quite small bodies can penetrate the tenuous atmosphere of Mars and cause erosive explosions on its surface.· Moreover, the detector would have to be in space, because gamma rays can not penetrate the atmosphere.· Indeed, kilometer-sized bodies will penetrate the atmosphere and impact with the surface almost irrespective of their composition and strength.· The more nearly vertical an object's trajectory, the deeper it penetrates into the atmosphere before catastrophic disruption.· As noted earlier, the ability of an entering body to penetrate the atmosphere and survive deceleration depends on its crushing strength.
· I have tried ever since, through writing, to penetrate my own layers of protective skin.· The Magellan radar-mapping mission was designed to penetrate the dense cloud layer and return detailed radar images of the surface geology.· To gain access to her he has to penetrate many layers of permeability.· Sunlight can not penetrate the layer, and heat can not be conducted through it.· Thunder could not penetrate the layers of stone above and around her.· Sunlight penetrates the layers of skin, damaging the collagen and elastic fibres.· The aircraft quivered when it penetrated the thin layers of cloud in its path.
· The Pin At night, no light penetrates the interior except through stained glass.· When long-life milk is packaged, it is sealed in aseptic boxes that prevent light and air from penetrating.· In water, sonar is essential for long distance perception, for light can not penetrate more than sixty feet or so.· The deeper they live, the less red light penetrates compared with blue.· The grey forms allow themselves to be read as clouds, through which stronger light is managing to penetrate.· The browner the water, the less blue light penetrates.· Their enemies, however, are fish that live in water where yellow light penetrates best.
· This may act as a disincentive to penetrating other national markets.· As Benhamou noted, the industry is starting to penetrate the small office market.· But it predicts massive sales and energy savings only if heat pumps penetrate the space-heating market.· In the 1991 Employee Report, we outlined our plans to penetrate the Middle East market.
· Bernice felt something, some force, move through her, penetrating her skin as though it were ether.· The virus can not penetrate the skin, if picked up on the skin from an environmental surface.· Beta particles can penetrate the skin but can be stopped by metal.· Would the cream dissolve fat on contact or penetrate the skin?· Although the infective larvae can penetrate the skin, the infection rarely matures and there is no evidence as yet of transmammary infection.· Sunlight penetrates the layers of skin, damaging the collagen and elastic fibres.
· The anomalous heat is thought to be due to solar energy, which penetrates the surface ice in spring and warms the depths.· They do not readily penetrate a panned surface.· If it is plastic it will penetrate the surface, but be careful not to go right through.
· Instead of endeavouring to penetrate its ten-foot thick walls, the rebels invited Grenville out to parley.· Outside, the Rippowam River ran so swiftly its roar penetrated the granite walls.· The larvae then penetrate the intestinal wall, and travel through the horse's tissues to organs such as the liver and pancreas.· They are a rare opportunity to penetrate the usual wall of indifference.· This is due to the fact that the bacteria normally used to penetrate the cell walls does not affect them.· It had penetrated the chest wall from the front, and pierced the left ventricle of the heart.· After ingestion and hatching the larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and within 48 hours have reached the liver.· A blocked rainwater gutter leads very quickly to damp penetrating the walls.
· It is into these, the minute irregularities, that water can not penetrate.· Their enemies, however, are fish that live in water where yellow light penetrates best.· The inability of water to penetrate is the result of a phenomenon known as water tension.· If water can penetrate and collect in joints, the wood will rot quickly unless steps are taken to prevent it.· The cold water penetrated his fur almost at once.
VERB· Similarly, granting a carbonaceous object the strength of a stony asteroid would allow it to penetrate to comparable altitudes.· Maps to particular places allow one to penetrate the maze, by appointment as it were.· Position your head over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel to allow the steam to penetrate.· Cut two diagonal slashes on each side to allow heat to penetrate.· It saves a few pence but it is a weak point that could allow moisture to penetrate.
· A Chancellor of the Exchequer who had failed to prevent thieves penetrating his treasury was summarily beaten to death.· Moreover, it had failed to penetrate very deeply in the schools.· Why have they failed to spectacularly to penetrate the mainstream?· One had failed to penetrate airport security at Budapest, got himself arrested and deported.
· The chill from the bare wall seemed to penetrate to her bones.· Occasionally he would ask me a question but the answer seemed not to penetrate very far.· He was feeling the clammy cold that seemed to penetrate his thick coat and chill his bones.· The wind was cutting across the open space at great speed, so cold it seemed to penetrate his bones.· Nothing seemed to penetrate Violet's consciousness as she waited for the fight to start.
bullets that penetrate thick armour plating Sunlight barely penetrated the dirty windows.penetrate into Explorers penetrated deep into unknown regions.2business [transitive] to start to sell things to an area or country, or to have an influence there: Few U.S. companies have successfully penetrated the Japanese electronics market.3organization [transitive] to succeed in becoming accepted into a group or an organization, sometimes in order to find out their secrets: KGB agents had penetrated most of their intelligence services.4understand formal a)[transitive] to succeed in understanding something: Science has penetrated the mysteries of nature. b)[intransitive, transitive] to be understood, with difficulty: What could I say that would penetrate his thick skull?5sex [transitive] if a man penetrates someone, he puts his penis into a woman’s vagina or into someone’s anus when having sex6see through [transitive] to see into or through something when this is difficult: My eyes couldn’t penetrate the gloom.- underdressed
- underemployed
- underestimate
- underexpose
- underexposed
- underfed
- underfelt
- underfloor heating
- underfoot
- underfunded
- underfunding
- undergarment
- undergo
- undergraduate
- underground
- Underground Railroad
- undergrowth
- underhand
- underlay
- underlie
- underline
- underling
- underlying
- undermanned
- Under Milk Wood