penetrative

2 definitions found

penetrative - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]

penetrative - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  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,
             penetrative, 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:
         penetrative, penetrating]