1. (

• penetrate ,
• perforate ,

) pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance; "The bullet penetrated her chest" ;

2. (

• penetrate ,
• fathom ,
• bottom

) come to understand ;

3. (

• click ,
• get_through ,
• dawn ,
• come_home ,
• get_across ,
• sink_in ,
• penetrate ,
• fall_into_place

) become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions; "It dawned on him that she had betrayed him"; "she was penetrated with sorrow" ;

4. (

• infiltrate ,
• penetrate

) enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members; "The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor" ;

5. (

• penetrate ,

) make one's way deeper into or through; "The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest" ;

6. (

• penetrate ,

) insert the penis into the vagina or anus of; "Did the molester penetrate the child?" ;

7. (

• permeate ,
• pervade ,
• penetrate ,
• interpenetrate ,
• diffuse ,
• imbue ,
• riddle ,

) 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" ;

1. (

• acute ,
• discriminating ,
• incisive ,
• keen ,
• knifelike ,
• penetrating ,
• penetrative ,
• piercing ,
• sharp

) having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" ;

2. (

• penetrative ,
• penetrating

) tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor" ;