pen·e·trate /ˈpenətreɪt/ ●○○ verb 1 go through 穿过 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]ENTER to enter something and pass or spread through it, especially when this is difficult 进入;渗入;刺入;穿过,穿透 → pierce bullets that penetrate thick armour plating 穿过厚装甲的子弹
Sunlight barely penetrated the dirty windows. 阳光几乎照不进那些肮脏的窗户。
penetrate into Explorers penetrated deep into unknown regions. 探险者深入到了未知地区。
2 business 生意 [transitiveT]BBT to start to sell things to an area or country, or to have an influence there 打进〔某地区或国家的市场〕 Few U.S. companies have successfully penetrated the Japanese electronics market. 很少有美国公司成功打入日本电子产品市场。
3 organization 组织 [transitiveT]SSOPPG to succeed in becoming accepted into a group or an organization, sometimes in order to find out their secrets 渗入〔某团体或组织〕 KGB agents had penetrated most of their intelligence services. 克格勃特工已渗透到他们大部分的情报部门。
4 understand 理解UNDERSTAND formal a) [transitiveT] to succeed in understanding something 洞察,了解 Science has penetrated the mysteries of nature. 科学已揭开了大自然的奥秘。
b) [intransitiveI, transitiveT] to be understood, with difficulty 〔困难地〕被理解 What could I say that would penetrate his thick skull? 我该说什么才能让他这个呆瓜明白呢?
5. sex 性 [transitiveT]HBHSEX/HAVE SEX WITH if a man penetrates someone, he puts his penis into a woman’s vagina or into someone’s anus when having sex 〔性交时〕把阴茎插入 6 see through 看穿 [transitiveT]SEE to see into or through something when this is difficult 〔努力〕透过…看见,看穿 My eyes couldn’t penetrate the gloom. 我的眼睛看不清暗处。
penetrate ... skull• Maybe that had even penetrated his thick skull.
From Longman Business Dictionary
penetratepen·e·trate /ˈpenətreɪt/ verb [transitiveT]MARKETING if a company penetrates a new market or area, it starts selling goods or services in that market or areaThe company has been struggling to penetrate the US market.