v (1)深入，穿(渗)透 (force or make a way into or through) [I+prep(into/through)， T+n]：Luckily the knife didn't actually～. 幸运的是刀子并未真正刺穿。He didn't merely see the surface， but～d beneath. 他不仅是看到了表面，而且看到了实质。(a detachment of soldiers)～(into) the enemy's territory/interior (一小分队战士)深入到敌占区/内地;(smell)～into the room (气味)透进房间里;Rain～d through the coat. 雨打透了衣服。The nail～d all the way through the wood. 钉子一直穿透了木头。The hawk's sharp claws～d his skin. 老鹰尖利的爪子抓破了他的皮肤。The bullet～d his right shoulder. 那颗子弹穿透了他的右肩。(a sharp cry)～the silence (尖利的叫喊声)打破了寂静;〖同〗pierce，prick，bore，enter;

(2)弥漫(充满，扩散)于 (fill or spread through) [T+n， T+n+prep(with) 尤 pass]：The smell～d the entire house. 气味弥漫了整个房子。(the whole country) be～d with fear (整个国家)陷入恐怖之中;All his poems are～d with the idea of death and hopelessness. 他所有的诗都充满了死亡和绝望的情绪。〖同〗enter;

(3)看(穿)透 (see or show a way into or through sth) [T+n]： The sun couldn't～the dark clouds. 太阳不能透过乌云。Light cannot～a brick wall. 光不能穿透砖墙。(eyes) cannot～the darkness (眼睛)不能看透黑暗;(headlamps) cannot～the fog (汽车的前灯)不能穿透雾;～one's disguise (fig) 看穿某人的伪装;

(4)洞察，理解(understand) [T+n]：～the author's symbolism/sb's thoughts/the mystery of the atom 理解作者的象征意义/某人的思想/原子的奥秘;〖同〗comprehend，perceive;

(5)被理解(come to be fully understood or realized) [I， T+n]： He suddenly smiled as the importance of the news～d. 他忽然笑了，因为他理解了消息的重要性。I smelt smoke but it didn't～that the house was on fire. 我闻到了烟味，但没想到房子失火。I heard what he said， but it didn't～. 我听见了他说的话，但没理解。Nothing you say～s enough to make him ashamed. 你说的话没有一句足以让他感到羞耻。Nothing I say can～his thick skull. 他那迟钝的大脑根本不能理解我的话。

→′penetrating adj 有洞察力的，有眼光的;(嗓音或声音)响亮的，尖刺的，有穿透力的;′penetratingly adv 有洞察力地，有眼光地;(嗓音或声音)响亮地，尖刺地，有穿透力地;pene′tration n 穿透(入);穿透能力(深度);渗透;′penetrative adj 有穿透力的;(头脑或思想)聪颖的，敏锐的;

【辨异】penetrate与pierce 都指透入或贯穿某物，亦可用作比喻用法。penetrate (穿透) 指深深地透入某物，或由一边插入而由另一边贯穿而出，暗示动作缓慢或艰难，如： No ordinary bullet can penetrate an elephant's hide. (一般的子弹不能穿透大象的皮。) pierce (刺入，穿透) 指用尖锐或锋利的刃具刺入，如：The dagger pierced his side. (匕首刺入他的肋部。) A scream pierces his ears. (他听到一声刺耳的尖叫。)