penetrate

Universal Words verb 1 ~ (into / through / to) sth to go into or through sth: [VN] The knife had penetrated his chest. * The sun's radiation penetrates the skin. * The cold seemed to penetrate his bones. * (figurative) The war penetrates every area of the nation's life. * [V] These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs. 2 to succeed in entering or joining an organization, a group, etc. especially when this is difficult to do: [VN] They had penetrated airport security. * The party has been penetrated by extremists. * This year the company has been trying to penetrate new markets (= to start selling their products there). * [V] The troops had penetrated deep into enemy lines. 3 [VN] to see or show a way into or through sth: Our eyes could not penetrate the darkness. * The flashlights barely penetrated the gloom. * narrow alleys where the sun never penetrates 4 [VN] to understand or discover sth that is difficult to understand or is hidden: Science can penetrate many of nature's mysteries. * a style that is difficult to penetrate * No one could penetrate the meaning of the inscription. 5 to be understood or realized by sb: [V] I was at the door before his words penetrated. * [VN] None of my advice seems to have penetrated his thick skull (= he has not listened to any of it). 6 [VN] (of a man) to put the PENIS into the VAGINA or ANUS of a sexual partner