- [transitive, intransitive] (of a liquid, gas, etc.液体、气体等) to spread to every part of an object or a place渗透；弥漫；扩散
- permeate something The smell of leather permeated the room.屋子里弥漫着皮革的气味。
- The air was permeated with the odour of burning rubber.空气中弥漫着燃烧橡胶的气味。
- + adv./prep. rainwater permeating through the ground渗入地下的雨水
- [transitive, intransitive] (of an idea, an influence, a feeling, etc.思想、影响、感情等) to affect every part of something感染；传播；扩散
- permeate something a belief that permeates all levels of society深入社会各阶层的看法
- A feeling of unease permeates the novel.小说中弥漫着一种不安的感觉。
- + adv./prep. Dissatisfaction among the managers soon permeated down to members of the workforce.管理人员的不满情绪很快传染给了全体职工。
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin permeat- ‘passed through’, from the verb permeare, from per- ‘through’ + meare ‘pass, go’.