penetration Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an attack that penetrates into enemy territory
    incursion.
  2. noun clear or deep perception of a situation
    insight.
  3. noun the act of entering into or through something
    • the penetration of upper management by women
  4. noun the ability to make way into or through something
    • the greater penetration of the new projectiles will result in greater injuries
  5. noun the depth to which something penetrates (especially the depth reached by a projectile that hits a target)
  6. noun the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman

WordNet

Pen"e*tra`tion noun
Etymology
L. penetratio: cf. F. pénétration.
Definitions
  1. The act or process of penetrating, piercing, or entering; also, the act of mentally penetrating into, or comprehending, anything difficult.
    And to each in ward part, With gentle penetration, though unseen, Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep. Milton.
    A penetration into the difficulties of algebra. Watts.
  2. Acuteness; insight; sharp discoverment; sagacity; as, a person of singular penetration. Walpole. Syn. -- Discernment; sagacity; acuteness; sharpness; discrimination. See Discernment, and Sagacity.

Webster 1913