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infiltrate

 - 6 dictionary results

in⋅fil⋅trate

  [in-fil-treyt, in-fil-treyt] verb, -trat⋅ed, -trat⋅ing, noun
Use infiltrate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to filter into or through; permeate.
2. to cause to pass in by filtering.
3. to move into (an organization, country, territory, or the like) surreptitiously and gradually, esp. with hostile intent: The troops infiltrated the enemy lines.
4. to pass a small number of (soldiers, spies, or the like) into a territory or organization clandestinely and with hostile or subversive intent: The intelligence agency infiltrated three spies into the neighboring country.
–verb (used without object)
5. to pass into or through a substance, place, etc., by or as by filtering.
6. Pathology. to penetrate tissue spaces or cells.
–noun
7. something that infiltrates.
8. Pathology. any substance penetrating tissues or cells and forming a morbid accumulation.
Origin:
1750–60; in- 2 + filtrate

Related forms:
in⋅fil⋅tra⋅tive  [in-fil-trey-tiv, in-fil-truh-] , adjective
in⋅fil⋅tra⋅tor  [in-fil-trey-ter, in-fil-trey-] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To infiltrate
in·fil·trate   (ĭn-fĭl'trāt', ĭn'fĭl-)   
v.   in·fil·trat·ed, in·fil·trat·ing, in·fil·trates

v.   tr.

    1. To pass (troops, for example) surreptitiously into enemy-held territory.

    2. To penetrate with hostile intent: infiltrate enemy lines; terrorists that had infiltrated the country.

  2. To enter or take up positions in gradually or surreptitiously, as for purposes of espionage or takeover: infiltrated key government agencies with spies.

  3. To cause (a liquid, for example) to permeate a substance by passing through its interstices or pores.

  4. To permeate (a porous substance) with a liquid or gas.

v.   intr.
To gain entrance gradually or surreptitiously.
n.  One that infiltrates, especially an abnormal substance that accumulates gradually in cells or body tissues.
in·fil'tra·tive (-trə-tĭv) adj., in·fil'tra·tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

infiltrate 
1758, of fluids, from in- "in" + filtrate (see filter (n.)). infiltration in fig. sense of "a passing into" (anything immaterial) is from 1840; Military sense of "stealthy penetration of enemy lines" dates from 1930.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1in·fil·trate
Pronunciation: in-'fil-"trAt, 'in-(")
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -trat·ed;-trat·ing
transitive senses
1 : to cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices <infiltrate tissue with alocal anesthetic>
2 : to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating infiltrate intransitive senses
: to enter, permeate, or passthrough a substance or area

Main Entry: 2infiltrate
Function: noun
: something that passes or is caused to pass into or through something by permeating or filtering; especially : a substance that passes into the bodily tissues and forms an abnormal accumulation infiltrate>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

infiltrate in·fil·trate (ĭn-fĭl'trāt', ĭn'fĭl-)
v. in·fil·trat·ed, in·fil·trat·ing, in·fil·trates

  1. To cause a liquid to permeate a substance by passing through its interstices or pores.

  2. To permeate a porous substance with a liquid or gas.

n.
An abnormal substance that accumulates gradually in cells or body tissues.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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