penetrate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

   The bullet penetrated their chest.

2. 2
   verb

   insert the penis into the vagina or anus of

   Did the molester penetrate the child?

3. 3
   verb

   make one's way deeper into or through

   The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest

4. 4
   verb

   To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierce.

   Light penetrates darkness.

5. 5
   verb

   To achieve understanding of, despite some obstacle; to comprehend; to understand.

   I could not penetrate Burke's opaque rhetoric.

6. 6
   verb

   To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to move deeply.

   to penetrate one's heart with pity

7. 7
   verb

   To insert the penis into an orifice, such as a vagina, mouth, or anus.

   a male elephant comes up and penetrates the female

8. 8
   verb

   become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions

Etymology

From Latin penētrātus, perfect passive participle of penētrō (“to put, set, or place within, enter, pierce, penetrate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from penes (“within, with”) by analogy to intrō (“to go in, enter”). Compare French pénétrer.