penetrate
1. pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance (Freq. 7)
- The bullet penetrated her chest
• Syn:
perforate
• Derivationally related forms:
perforation (for: perforate), penetrator
• Hypernyms:
enter, come in, get into, get in, go into,
go in, move into
• Hyponyms:
probe, dig into, poke into, cut, interpenetrate,
permeate, strike, break, foray, sneak in, creep in,
pervade, diffuse, imbue, riddle, honeycomb, pierce,
thrust, tunnel, percolate, sink in, filter, ingrain,
grain, immerse, plunge, storm, force, ooze through
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s something
- Somebody ----s PP
2. come to understand (Freq. 3)
• Syn:
fathom, bottom
• Derivationally related forms:
penetrative, penetration
• Hypernyms:
understand
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
3. become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions (Freq. 1)
- It dawned on him that she had betrayed him
- she was penetrated with sorrow
• Syn:
click, get through, dawn, come home, get across,
sink in, fall into place
• Cause:
understand
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
4. spread or diffuse through
- An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration
- music penetrated the entire building
- His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks
• Syn:
permeate, pervade, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddle
• Derivationally related forms:
diffusive (for: diffuse), diffusion (for: diffuse), diffusor (for: diffuse), interpenetration (for: interpenetrate), penetrative, pervasive (for: pervade), pervasion (for: pervade), permeative (for: permeate), permeant (for: permeate), permeation (for: permeate)
• Hypernyms:
perforate
• Hyponyms:
spiritize, spiritise
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s something
5. enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
- The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor
• Syn:
infiltrate
• Derivationally related forms:
infiltration (for: infiltrate), infiltrator (for: infiltrate)
• Hypernyms:
join, fall in, get together
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
6. make one's way deeper into or through
- The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest
• Derivationally related forms:
penetration
• Hypernyms:
advance, progress, pass on, move on, march on, go on
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s PP
7. insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
- Did the molester penetrate the child?
• Derivationally related forms:
penetration
• Hypernyms:
insert, infix, enter, introduce
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
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