- 1[transitive, intransitive] (of a liquid, gas, etc.) to spread to every part of an object or a place permeate something The smell of leather permeated the room. The air was permeated with the odor of burning rubber. + adv./prep. rainwater permeating through the ground
- 2[transitive, intransitive] (of an idea, an influence, a feeling, etc.) to affect every part of something permeate something a belief that permeates all levels of society A feeling of unease permeates the novel. + adv./prep. Dissatisfaction among the managers soon permeated down to members of the workforce.
permeate
verbNAmE//ˈpərmiˌeɪt//
(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they permeate he / she / it permeates
past simple permeated
-ing form permeating
NAmE//ˌpərmiˈeɪʃn//
noun [uncountable] (formal)See permeate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: permeate