penetrate-v; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

Commentary:
NOTE: Compare carefully to Sense 4: Sense 1 involves penetration inward at a single point or along a single path. Syntax Includes: NP1[instrument] PENETRATE NP2[patient[concrete]] NP1[agent] PENETRATE NP2[patient[concrete]]

Examples:
The bullet penetrated 14 inches into the steel.
The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest.
Groundwater penetrated a spot in the shale beneath our backyard.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: penetrate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5, 6

Sense Number 2: infiltrate; sneak in

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] PENETRATE NP2[patient[abstract]]

Examples:
A computer hacker penetrated the Pentagon's email system on Thursday.
KGB records show how spies penetrated the heart of India.
The committee explained how the tobacco industry penetrated the World Health Organization.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: penetrate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 3: understand

Examples:
I couldn't penetrate his confused and tortured prose.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 4: permeate

Commentary:
NOTE: Compare carefully to Sense 1: Sense 4 involves penetration over an area (may be concrete or abstract). Syntax Is: NP1[agent] PENETRATE NP2

Examples:
Their greatest innovation was tissue paper penetrated with softening lotion.
A minimum of 85 percent of the sapwood must be penetrated with preservative.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: penetrate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 5: enter one's emotions or consciousness

Examples:
An eerie sense of sorrow penetrated my core.
Thoughts of anger penetrated my mind.
It speaks of union beyond simple intimacy, of being penetrated with joy and abandon.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: penetrate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3