penetration

Penetration refers to entering or making your way through something. It's also a deep insight.

When something penetrates, it’s going through something else, so penetration is an example of this happening. You could talk about the penetration of a jacket by a knife, or the penetration of a fortress by an army. When a basketball team pierces the other team's defenses, it's called penetration. Also, in-depth perception or insight is called penetration. Just like physical penetration goes deep into something, mental penetration implies deep understanding of an idea or situation.

Primary Meanings of penetration

1.	n	the act of entering into or through something
2.	n	the ability to make way into or through something
3.	n	the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman
4.	n	clear or deep perception of a situation

Full Definitions of penetration

n the act of entering into or through something

“the penetration of upper management by women”

Types:: interpenetration, permeation
mutual penetration; diffusion of each through the other; market penetration
the extent to which a product is recognized and bought by customers in a particular market

Type of:: entering, entrance, entry, incoming, ingress
the act of entering

n an attack that penetrates into enemy territory

Synonyms:: incursion

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; interpenetration
the action of penetrating between or among; breakthrough
a penetration of a barrier such as an enemy's defense; invasion
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder; infiltration
a process in which individuals (or small groups) penetrate an area (especially the military penetration of enemy positions without detection); foray, maraud, raid
a sudden short attack; air attack, air raid
an attack by armed planes on a surface target; inroad
an invasion or hostile attack; swoop
a very rapid raid

Type of:: attack, onrush, onset, onslaught
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

n the ability to make way into or through something

“the greater penetration of the new projectiles will result in greater injuries”

Type of:: ability
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

n the depth to which something penetrates (especially the depth reached by a projectile that hits a target)

Type of:: deepness, depth
the extent downward or backward or inward

n the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman

n clear or deep perception of a situation

Synonyms:: insight

Type of:: perception
knowledge gained by perceiving