permeate

[ pur-mee-eyt ]
See synonyms for: permeatepermeatedpermeatespermeating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing.
  1. to pass into or through every part of: Bright sunshine permeated the room.

  2. to penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.

  1. to be diffused through; pervade; saturate: Cynicism permeated his report.

verb (used without object),per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing.
  1. to become diffused; penetrate.

Origin of permeate

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin permeātus, past participle of permeāre “to pass through”; see origin at per-, meatus

Other words from permeate

  • per·me·a·tion [pur-mee-ey-shuhn], /ˌpɜr miˈeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • per·me·a·tive, adjective
  • per·me·a·tor, noun
  • in·ter·per·me·ate, verb (used with object), in·ter·per·me·at·ed, in·ter·per·me·at·ing.
  • non·per·me·a·tion, noun
  • non·per·me·a·tive, adjective
  • un·per·me·at·ing, adjective
  • un·per·me·a·tive, adjective

Words Nearby permeate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use permeate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for permeate

permeate

/ (ˈpɜːmɪˌeɪt) /


verb
  1. to penetrate or pervade (a substance, area, etc): a lovely smell permeated the room

  2. to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion: to permeate a membrane

Origin of permeate

1
C17: from Latin permeāre, from per- through + meāre to pass

Derived forms of permeate

  • permeation, noun
  • permeative, adjective

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