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permeate

per·me·ate [ púrmee àyt ] (past and past participle per·me·at·ed, present participle per·me·at·ing, 3rd person present singular per·me·ates)

transitive and intransitive verb

Definition:

1. spread through: to enter something and spread throughout it, so that every part or aspect of it is affected

2. pass through: to pass through the minute openings in a porous substance or membrane, or make something such as a liquid pass through

[Mid-17th century. < Latin permeat-, past participle of permeare "pass through" < meare "to pass"]

per·me·a·tion [ pùrmee áysh'n ] noun

per·me·a·tive [ púrmee àytiv ] adjective

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