Talk:penetrate

I feel that the sexual meaning of "penetrate" (ie., by penis) should be mentioned here since other articles (such as skull-fuck) refer to it. So I've added it. SpectrumDT 22:10, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Removal of second definition.
I disagree with the addition of the second definition of the verb "penetrate", as t has recently become a bit of a misnomer, and society don't seem to recognise the original definition of the word anymore.

I have never read in any paper-based dictionary where the definition of "penetrate" had included the sexual reference. The word penetrate has recently been widely used in the sexual sense, and as a result of it, many people are unaware of the technical application for the verb, and therefore become confused by the use of it (i.e. internet penetration has become somewhat of a weird idea to people because they associate the word "penetration" to sexual references).

My suggestion is that the second definition be classified as a slang definition or as a neologism, because society needs to aware that word "penetrate" (and all other derived forms) does have an older definition than the one currently being used in society.

Thank you very much.

--Eug.galeotti 12:02, 8 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Both definitions need a lot of work, but we certainly don’t want to remove a valid definition for the sake of prescriptionism. The first definition isn’t very good and needs work. The second definition is, IMHO, too broad and needs work. For example, I don’t think it applies to somebody doing a milk bottle or a heated cantaloupe. —Stephen 12:20, 8 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Most of the better OneLook dictionaries have the sense (but not MWOnline). It is attested from 1613, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. I'd expect that at least the online OED has it. This entry needs a few other senses as well. DCDuring TALK 19:41, 8 December 2008 (UTC)


 * I am also fine with that. As long as there is a distinct and clear definition of both given terms,people can get a clear understanding. --Eug.galeotti 08:31, 10 December 2008 (UTC)

(Intransitive) be understood
(Intransitive) to be understood or taken in by the mind It took a few seconds for the news to penetrate. --Backinstadiums (talk) 16:17, 15 October 2020 (UTC)

double entendre
No one has challenged what I wrote, and maybe nobody ever will, but I think this commercial is good evidence of the use of by itself having a sexual meaning ... the word is spoken right at the time that the spaceships land on Earth (which is depicted in a way very similar to sperm fertilizing an egg). — Soap — 16:56, 28 June 2023 (UTC)