penetrating, ppl. a.
(ˈpɛnɪtreɪtɪŋ)
[f. penetrate v. + -ing2.]
That penetrates; penetrative.
1. a. That pierces, or makes its way into or through something; spec. Having the quality of permeating the bodily system, or of strongly affecting the senses, esp. smell, taste, or hearing; sharp pungent; shrill or far-sounding.
| 1598 Florio, Oxipori, a kinde of piercing or penetrating medicine. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. ii. 58 Effluxions, their penetrating natures. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 197 A strong penetrating Smell. 1802 Bingley Anim. Biog. (1813) III. 349 The Penetrating Flea, or Chigoe. 1874 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. iii. §22. 47 Liberty is more penetrating and more extensive than elsewhere. |
b. Passing readily through matter.
| 1902 Nature 31 July 318/1 Villard..first drew attention to the existence of some very penetrating rays from radium non-deviable by a magnetic field. 1928 [see cosmic a. 3 c]. 1938 R. W. Lawson tr. Hevesy & Paneth's Man. Radioactivity (ed. 2) xxv. 280 A penetrating particle had traversed both counters and the Wilson chamber. 1947 Radiology XLIX. 358/2 The malignant response elicited by penetrating radiations, irrespective of type, consisted of hemopoietic tissue tumors. 1968 M. S. Livingston Particle Physics iv. 74 Muons are the ‘penetrating’ component of the ionizing particles in cosmic radiation observed beneath great layers of earth in salt mines. |
2. fig. That touches the heart or feelings intensely; deeply affecting.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 107 Courteous penetrating lenity. 1851–5 G. Brimley Ess., Tennyson 77 From the penetrating tenderness..of his love for the young girl. |
3. fig. Having power to search with the mind into a thing; having or showing insight; acute, discerning.
| a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 4 And bent his penetrating Brow, As if he meant to gaze her through. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 62 ¶8 The most penetrating of all the French Criticks. 1718 Free-thinker No. 89. 237 Their Judgment grows clear and penetrating. 1795 Burke Lett., to Hussey (1844) IV. 276 A wise person, of a penetrating and sagacious mind. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ix, Acute features, and a penetrating look. 1875 Whitney Life Lang. ix 174 It takes a more penetrating and enlightened study to pick out the signs of original unity. |
Hence ˈpenetratingly adv.; ˈpenetratingness.
| 1662 H. Stubbe Ind. Nectar iii. 55 The strength and penetratingness of their smell. 1670 Cotton Espernon ii. vii. 332 Even the most penetratingly inquisitive began to grow weary of their suspicion. 1885 J. Hawthorne Miss Cadogna xvi. 206 Eyeing him penetratingly in her turn. |
______________________________
Add: [1.] c. Sport. Capable of breaching an opponent's defence.
| 1958 Listener 16 Oct. 604/1 In dropping Wardle, M.C.C. have dropped the man who is certainly our most penetrating bowler on easy wickets. 1987 Tennis Aug. 10/2 Her game, particularly her erratic but penetrating serve, was born for grass. |