penetrate

/ˈpɛnətreɪt/
verb
  1. To go into or through something, often with force or effort.
    • Sunlight penetrated the dark room through a small window.
    • The explorers tried to penetrate the dense jungle.
    • The nail easily penetrated the soft wood.
  2. To understand or see through something that is difficult or hidden.
    • It took a while for the truth to penetrate his stubborn mind.
    • Her sharp questions penetrated his calm exterior.
    • Scientists hope to penetrate the mysteries of the deep ocean.
  3. To enter an organization or group secretly in order to gain information.
    • The spy managed to penetrate the enemy's headquarters.
    • The hacker tried to penetrate the company's computer system.
    • Undercover agents penetrated the criminal network.
What does "penetrate" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean