penetrate

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈpɛnɪtreɪt/ or /ˈpɛnətreɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pen‧e‧trate

Verb

Plain form penetrate

Third-person singular penetrates

Past tense penetrated

Past participle penetrated

Present participle penetrating

1. (transitive) If you penetrate something, you enter it.
   • Synonyms: enter and insert

   The rocket was the first to penetrate space.

   Light penetrates into the windows during the daytime.

   A penis penetrates the vagina during intercourse.

Related words

• penetration
• penetrable