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permeate
5 dictionary results for: permeate
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
per·me·ate       [pur-mee-eyt] Pronunciation Key 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.
[Origin: 1650–60; < L permeātus ptp. of permeāre to pass through. See per-, meatus]

—Related forms
per·me·a·tion, noun
per·me·a·tive, adjective
per·me·a·tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
per·me·ate       (pûr'mē-āt')  Pronunciation Key 
v.   per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing, per·me·ates

v.   tr.
  1. To spread or flow throughout; pervade: "Our thinking is permeated by our historical myths" (Freeman J. Dyson). See Synonyms at charge.
  2. To pass through the openings or interstices of: liquid permeating a membrane.

v.   intr.
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.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
permeate

verb
1. spread or diffuse through; "An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration"; "music penetrated the entire building"; "His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks" 
2. pass through; "Water permeates sand easily" [syn: percolate] 
3. penetrate mutually or be interlocked; "The territories of two married people interpenetrate a lot" [syn: interpenetrate] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Permeate

Per"me*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Permeating.] [L. permeatus, p. p. of permeare to permeate; per + meare to go, pass.]

1. To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; -- applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand. --Woodward.

2. To enter and spread through; to pervade.

God was conceived to be diffused throughout the whole world, to permeate and pervade all things. --Cudworth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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