Penetration
[penɪ'treɪʃ(ə)n] or [,pɛnɪ'treʃən]
Definition
(noun.) the act of entering into or through something; 'the penetration of upper management by women'.
(noun.) the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman.
(noun.) an attack that penetrates into enemy territory.
(noun.) the depth to which something penetrates (especially the depth reached by a projectile that hits a target).
(noun.) the ability to make way into or through something; 'the greater penetration of the new projectiles will result in greater injuries'.
(noun.) clear or deep perception of a situation.
Editor: Vicky--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The act or process of penetrating, piercing, or entering; also, the act of mentally penetrating into, or comprehending, anything difficult.
(n.) Acuteness; insight; sharp discoverment; sagacity; as, a person of singular penetration.
Inputed by Jeanine
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Penetrating.[2]. Acuteness, discernment, sagacity, shrewdness, astuteness, sharpness, perspicacity, insight, mother-wit, quick parts.
Checked by Barlow
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Discernment, observation, sagacity, acuteness, discrimination, insight,sharpness
ANT:Indiscernment, dulness, indiscrimination, stolidity, hebetude,shortsightedness, shallowness, obtuseness
Inputed by Jules
Examples
- He looked with smiling penetration; and, on receiving no answer, added, _She_ ought not to be angry with you, I suspect, whatever he may be. Jane Austen. Emma.
- But, as it was, she only learned, from some very significant looks, how far their penetration, founded on Margaret's instructions, extended. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- Other shells have been invented carrying a high explosive and capable of penetrating armour plates of great thickness, and exploding after such penetration has taken place. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- But penetration is impossible: Mathematical points are of consequence equally impossible. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- A blue and a red point may surely lie contiguous without any penetration or annihilation. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- He coloured a little, stared at her--and suddenly felt the penetration of the remark. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- It must therefore touch it intimately, and in its whole essence, SECUNDUM SE, TOTA, ET TOTALITER; which is the very definition of penetration. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- There is no force of reflection or penetration required. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- You are a man of celebrated penetration and intelligence, and you can tell me how it's to be brought about. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Mr Boffin pointed at the culprit, as it were in the act, and hugged himself in his great penetration. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He had never been quite within the compass of my penetration, and I think he ranged farther and farther beyond it. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Not that it required much penetration to say that, because I knew that his being there at all was an act of kindness. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The construction of metals, both for cannon to resist most intense explosives and for plates to resist the penetration of the best projectiles, have received great attention. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- There was no denying that those brothers had penetration. Jane Austen. Emma.
- Of course it took time to penetrate into the meat, but the first superficial penetration stopped the injurious effects of germs which set up putrefaction. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
Editor: Louise