interpenetrate

[ in-ter-pen-i-treyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·ter·pen·e·trat·ed, in·ter·pen·e·trat·ing.

1. to penetrate thoroughly; permeate.
2. to penetrate with (something else) mutually or reciprocally.

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·pen·e·trat·ed, in·ter·pen·e·trat·ing.

1. to penetrate between things or parts.
2. to penetrate each other.

interpenetrate

/ ˌɪntəˈpɛnɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to penetrate (something) thoroughly; pervade
2. to penetrate each other or one another mutually

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈpenetrant, adjective
• ˌinterˈpenetrable, adjective
• ˌinterˌpeneˈtration, noun
• ˌinterˈpenetrative, adjective
• ˌinterˈpenetratively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·ter·pen·e·tra·ble [in-ter-, pen, -i-tr, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• inter·pene·trant adjective
• inter·pene·tration noun
• inter·pene·trative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of interpenetrate¹

First recorded in 1800–10; inter- + penetrate

Example Sentences

When our glances encounter each other, our souls rush forth in them, and seem to join and interpenetrate each other.

From Project Gutenberg

Present-day man possesses four bodies of increasing fineness, the elements of which interpenetrate.

From Project Gutenberg

Ethics and science have their own domains, which touch but do not interpenetrate.

From Project Gutenberg

Each atom is surrounded by a field, formed of the atoms of the four higher planes, which surround and interpenetrate it.

From Project Gutenberg

All was so still that sleep seemed to interpenetrate the structure, causing the very moonlight to look discordantly awake.

From Project Gutenberg