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   penetrate

   /ˈpɛnɪtreɪt/

   verb

   • 1. go into or through (something), especially with force or effort: "the shrapnel had penetrated his head" Similar piercepuncturemake a hole inperforatestabprickprobegorespikestickimpaletransfixbore (through)drill (through)lance
   • ▪ (of a man) insert the penis into the vagina or anus of (a sexual partner).
   • 2. gain access to (an organization, place, or system), especially when this is difficult to do: "M15 had been penetrated by Russian intelligence" Similar infiltrateslip intosneak intocreep intoinsinuate oneself intoworm one's way intomake inroads intoinvadeintrude onoverrun
   • ▪ (of a company) begin to sell its products in (a particular market or area): "the company has succeeded in penetrating Western motorcycle markets"
   • 3. succeed in understanding or gaining insight into (something complex or mysterious): "I could never penetrate his thoughts" Similar understandcomprehendapprehendfathomgraspperceivediscernget to the bottom ofsolveresolvemake outmake sense ofinterpretpuzzle outwork outfigure outunraveldeciphermake head or tail ofinformal:crackgettumble tolatch on tocotton on tosuss outtwig
   • ▪ be fully understood or realized by someone: "as his words penetrated, she saw a mental picture of him with Dawn" Similar be understoodbe comprehendedbe taken inbe graspedbecome clearregistermake an impressionget throughsink infall into placedawncome homeinformal:click

   Word Origin mid 16th century: from Latin penetrat- ‘placed or gone into’, from the verb penetrare; related to penitus ‘inner’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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