per·me·ate (pûr'mē-āt') v. per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing, per·me·ates v. tr.
To spread through or penetrate something. [Latin permeāre, permeāt-, to penetrate : per-, through; see per- + meāre, to pass; see mei-1 in Indo-European roots.] per'me·ant (-ənt), per'me·a'tive (-ā'tĭv) adj., per'me·a'tion n. |