penetrant

[ pen-i-truhnt ]

/ ˈpɛn ɪ trənt /

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See synonyms for penetrant on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that penetrates.

a compound that penetrates the skin, as a lotion or cream.

a substance that lowers the surface tension of water; wetting agent.

Zoology. a large nematocyst discharging a barbed thread that penetrates the body of the prey and injects a toxic fluid.

adjective

penetrating.

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Origin of penetrant

1535–45; <Latin penetrant- (stem of penetrāns), present participle of penetrāre to penetrate; see -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM penetrant

un·pen·e·trant, adjective

Words nearby penetrant

Penelope, peneplain, penetrable, penetralia, penetrance, penetrant, penetrate, penetrating, penetration, penetration aid, penetrative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use penetrant in a sentence

Together, these difficult to treat types of cancer affect tens of thousands of patients every year who could benefit from brain-penetrant therapies, Saccomano adds.
Can Cancer Killers Get Past the Brain’s Bouncers?|Charu Kasturi|November 30, 2020|Ozy
His team is currently working to develop several potentially brain-penetrant molecules that target different gene mutations.
Can Cancer Killers Get Past the Brain’s Bouncers?|Charu Kasturi|November 30, 2020|Ozy
The dew lay heavy on the laurel leaves of the thickets, and the breeze was perfumed with the penetrant fragrance of many blossoms.
Heart of the Blue Ridge|Waldron Baily
Sharp shoe-calks afford a means of infliction of penetrant wounds which may occasion open joint and infectious arthritis.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix

Then he raised his eyes from the water and swept the sky in a penetrant gaze.
The Harvester|Gene Stratton Porter
Simplices clos penetrant, et literati disputant utrum sit Deus!
Oxford and its Story|Cecil Headlam
With Mr. Tassers penetrant and suspicious gaze on him, he decided that it would be wise to avoid all seeming interest in Myron.
Full-Back Foster|Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for penetrant

penetrant

/ (ˈpɛnɪtrənt) /

adjective

sharp; penetrating

noun

chem a substance that lowers the surface tension of a liquid and thus causes it to penetrate or be absorbed more easily

a person or thing that penetrates

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

penetrant

Origin of penetrant

OTHER WORDS FROM penetrant

Words nearby penetrant

Words related to penetrant

How to use penetrant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for penetrant