Nearby Words

permeate

[pur-mee-eyt] Example Sentences Origin

per·me·ate

[pur-mee-eyt] verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to pass into or through every part of: Bright sunshine permeated the room.
2.
to penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.
3.
to be diffused through; pervade; saturate: Cynicism permeated his report.
verb (used without object)
4.
to become diffused; penetrate.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Permeate is a GRE word you need to know.
So is preen. Does it mean:
to trim with the beak or tongue
occurring, coming, or done too soon

Origin:
1650–60; < Latin permeātus past participle of permeāre to pass through. See per-, meatus

per·me·a·tion, noun
per·me·a·tive, adjective
per·me·a·tor, noun
in·ter·per·me·ate, verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
non·per·me·a·tion, noun
EXPAND
non·per·me·a·tive, adjective
un·per·me·at·ed, adjective
un·per·me·at·ing, adjective
un·per·me·a·tive, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To permeate
Example Sentences
  • The popular media of a bygone era, mythology continues to permeate our world.
  • None could have imagined quite how the series would permeate the national consciousness.
  • Smashing firm green olives before marinating them allows the seasonings to permeate the olives' flesh.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
permeate (ˈpɜːmɪˌeɪt)
 
vb
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
 
[C17: from Latin permeāre, from per- through + meāre to pass]
 
perme'ation
 
n
 
'permeative
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

permeate
1650s, from L. permeat-, pp. stem of permeare "to pass through" (see permeable).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

permeate per·me·ate (pûr'mē-āt')
v. per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing, per·me·ates

  1. To spread or flow throughout; pervade.

  2. To pass through the openings or interstices of, as a liquid through a membrane.

n. (-ĭt, -āt')
One that can permeate.
per'me·ant (-ənt) or per'me·a'tive (-ā'tĭv) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature