penetration
n.-
1 physical entry (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe act of moving into or through something, like a needle going into skin or a bullet hitting a target.
the act or process of piercing or entering a physical body or substance.
ExampleThe thick walls of the old castle prevented the penetration of the radio signal.
ExampleThe armour was specifically designed to resist the penetration of high-velocity projectiles during close-quarters combat.
Usageoften used with the preposition 'of' or 'into'
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2 market reach (n.) C1 Advanced Academic Technicalthe percentage of people in a group who buy a certain product or use a service.
the extent to which a product or service is recognised or bought by a particular target market.
ExampleThe company is happy with its market penetration in Europe this year.
ExampleDespite aggressive advertising campaigns, the brand struggled to achieve significant market penetration in rural territories dominated by local competitors.
Usagefrequently appears in the compound 'market penetration'
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3 intellectual insight (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Literarythe ability to understand complicated ideas or see the truth in a situation.
the capacity for acute mental discernment or the act of perceiving the inner nature of a situation.
ExampleHer analysis of the problem showed great intellectual penetration.
ExampleThe philosopher was celebrated for his remarkable penetration, often identifying logical fallacies that his contemporaries had overlooked for decades.
- shallowness
- ignorance
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4 sexual act (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Formal Medicinethe act of one body part or object entering another during sex.
the insertion of the penis or an object into a body orifice during sexual activity.
ExampleThe doctor explained that the injury occurred during penetration.
ExampleLegal definitions of the act often hinge on the specific degree of penetration recorded in the forensic report.
Usageused in medical, legal, or formal biological contexts
From Middle English penetracioun, from Old French penetracïon, and its source, Latin penetrātiō, from the participle stem of penetrō (“pierce”, verb). Morphologically penetrate + -ion.