- penetrate
- [[t]pe̱nɪtreɪt[/t]]
penetrates, penetrating, penetrated1) VERB If something or someone penetrates a physical object or an area, they succeed in getting into it or passing through it.
[V n] X-rays can penetrate many objects...
[V n] His men had been ordered to shoot on sight anyone trying to penetrate the area.
Derived words:penetration [[t]pe̱nɪtre͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] plural N-UNCOUNT also N in plThe exterior walls are three to three and a half feet thick to prevent penetration by bombs.
...moves designed to block enemy penetrations.
2) VERB If someone penetrates an organization, a group, or a profession, they succeed in entering it although it is difficult to do so.[V n] ...the continuing failure of women to penetrate the higher levels of engineering...
[V n] The drugs industry is complex and hard to penetrate.
Syn:3) VERB If someone penetrates an enemy group or a rival organization, they succeed in joining it in order to get information or cause trouble.[V n] The CIA had requested our help to penetrate a drugs ring operating out of Munich...
[V n] The army was one of the few institutions the secret police were not encouraged to penetrate.
Syn:Derived words:penetration N-UNCOUNT with supp...the successful penetration by the KGB of the French intelligence service.
4) VERB If a company or country penetrates a market or area, they succeed in selling their products there.[V n] There have been around 15 attempts from outside France to penetrate the market.
Derived words:penetration N-UNCOUNT with supp...import penetration across a broad range of heavy industries.
5) VERB If you penetrate something that is difficult to understand, you succeed in understanding it. [FORMAL][V n] ...long answers that were often difficult to penetrate.
Syn:grasp, fathom
English dictionary. 2008.