penetrar

Senses

1. 1.

   to penetrate, to enter

   to go into or through something, often with force or difficulty

2. 2.

   to infiltrate, to permeate

   to spread through or into something gradually

3. 3.

   to understand deeply, to grasp

   to comprehend the essence or meaning of something

Examples

• "A bala penetrou no muro de concreto."

  The bullet penetrated the concrete wall.

• "O frio penetrou até os ossos."

  The cold penetrated to the bone.

• "É difícil penetrar nos mistérios da natureza."

  It's difficult to penetrate the mysteries of nature.

Usage

Common verb used both literally (physical penetration) and figuratively (understanding, infiltration). Often followed by "em" or "por" (penetrar em/por algo). In sexual contexts, can be explicit, so use with awareness of register.