释义 |
penetratepenetrate /ˈpɛnəˌtreɪt/ ●●○ verb ETYMOLOGYpenetrateOrigin: 1500-1600 Latin, past participle of penetrare VERB TABLEpenetrate |
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 |
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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 |
THESAURUSto make a small hole in or through something using an object with a sharp point► pierceto make a small hole in or through something using an object with a sharp point: A bullet pierced his spinal cord. Pierce a hole in each card to thread the ribbon through. ► make a hole in something to cut something or do something else that causes it to have a hole: Make a hole in the bottom of the can using a hammer and nail. ► poke a hole informal to make a hole in something by pushing something pointed into it: Use your finger to poke a hole in the dough. ► prick to make a very small hole in the surface of something, using something thin with a sharp point: She pricked her finger with the needle. ► punch to make a hole in something using a metal tool or other sharp object: I had to punch an extra hole in the belt to get it to fit. ► puncture to make a small hole in something so that air or liquid can get out: A broken rib punctured his lung. ► drill to make a hole using a special tool: He drilled three holes in the wall about six inches apart. ► bore to make a deep round hole in a hard surface: Workers bored a hole in the rock. ► penetrate formal to pass into or through something that is deep or thick, and usually make a hole in it: The bullet penetrated the door and went through the other side. 1GO INTO/THROUGH something [intransitive, transitive] to enter something or pass through it, especially when this is difficult: The bullets penetrated the thick armor.penetrate into something Oil had penetrated into the concrete.penetrate through something Light does not penetrate through water as easily as through air.► see thesaurus at pierce2SPREAD THROUGH something [intransitive, transitive] to spread through an area, group of people, society, etc. and have an effect: The fall weather outside penetrated the room.penetrate into something Islam has penetrated into vast parts of Africa and Asia.3MOVE INTO AREA [intransitive, transitive] to move into a place or area when someone is trying to stop you: An American plane had penetrated deep into Russian defenses.penetrate into something The soldiers penetrated deep into enemy-held territory.4BUSINESS [transitive] to succeed in selling your products in an area or country, especially when this is difficult: Few U.S. companies have successfully penetrated the Japanese electronics market.5ORGANIZATION [transitive] to join and be accepted into a group or an organization in order to find out their secrets: Spies had penetrated the highest ranks of both governments.6UNDERSTAND [transitive] formal to succeed in understanding something very difficult: Scientists are attempting to penetrate the mysteries of deep space.7SEE THROUGH [transitive] to see into or through something even though it is difficult: My eyes couldn’t penetrate the gloom. → see also impenetrable—penetrable /ˈpɛnətrəbəl/ adjective—penetrability /ˌpɛnətrəˈbɪlət̮i/ noun [uncountable] |