interpenetrate

American  

[in-ter-pen-i-treyt] / ˌɪn tərˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪt /

verb (used with object)

interpenetrated, interpenetrating

1. to penetrate thoroughly; permeate.

2. to penetrate with (something else) mutually or reciprocally.

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verb (used without object)

interpenetrated, interpenetrating

1. to penetrate between things or parts.

2. to penetrate each other.

interpenetrate British  

/ ˌɪntəˈpɛnɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to penetrate (something) thoroughly; pervade

2. to penetrate each other or one another mutually

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Other Word Forms

• interpenetrable adjective
• interpenetrant adjective
• interpenetration noun
• interpenetrative adjective
• interpenetratively adverb

Etymology

Origin of interpenetrate

First recorded in 1800–10; inter- + penetrate

Example Sentences

Crazing patterns in polymers form in a direction perpendicular to the applied stress, and consist of interpenetrating, micrometre-scale voids bridged by highly oriented polymer microfibrils.

From Nature

The substantial reconstruction that is needed to convert single networks into interpenetrating ones requires a large energy barrier to be overcome.

From Nature

Two of the figures embrace, and their bodies interpenetrate to form a new anthropomorphic — no, feminamorphic — tree.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than nature being “out there,” everything interpenetrated, and hearing voices was not uncommon in a world enchanted and inhabited by spirit.

From New York Times

But things improve as the two stories, or at least the two pairs of actors, eventually start to interpenetrate.

From New York Times