Penetrative \Pen"e*tra*tive\, a. [Cf. F. p['e]n['e]tratif.]
1. Tending to penetrate; of a penetrating quality; piercing;
as, the penetrative sun.
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His look became keen and penetrative. --Hawthorne.
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2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind or heart;
impressive; as, penetrative shame. --Shak.
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3. Acute; discerning; sagacious; as, penetrative wisdom. "The
penetrative eye." --Wordsworth.
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Led on by skill of penetrative soul. --Grainger.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
penetrative
adj 1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine
distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and
politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike
reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a
fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative
observations" [syn: acute, discriminating, incisive,
keen, knifelike, penetrating, piercing, sharp]
2: tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or
piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the
surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor"
[syn: penetrating]
WordNet (r) 2.0
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