infiltrate
- infiltrate
-
verb
(-trated; -trating)
Date: 1758
transitive verb
1. to cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
2. to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
3. to pass (troops) singly or in small groups through gaps in the enemy line
4. to enter or become established in gradually or unobtrusively usually for subversive purposes <
the intelligence staff had been infiltrated by spies
>
intransitive verb
to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area by filtering or by insinuating gradually
• infiltrate noun
• infiltration noun
• infiltrative adjective
• infiltrator noun
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
Infiltrate — In*fil trate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Infiltrated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Infiltrating}.] [Pref. in + filtrate: cf. F, s infiltrer. Cf. {Infilter}.] 1. To enter by penetrating the pores or interstices of a substance; to filter into or through something.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Infiltrate — In*fil trate, v. t. To penetrate gradually; sometimes used reflexively. J. S. Mill. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
infiltrate — index encroach, enter (penetrate), interject, interpose, penetrate, permeate, pervade Burton s Legal Th … Law dictionary
infiltrate — (v.) 1758, of fluids, from IN (Cf. in ) (2) in + FILTRATE (Cf. filtrate). Related: Infiltrated; infiltrating. Military sense of penetrate enemy lines attested from 1934 … Etymology dictionary
infiltrate — [v] creep in access, crack*, edge in, filter through, foist, impregnate, insinuate, penetrate, percolate*, permeate, pervade, saturate, sneak in, tinge, work into, worm into*; concepts 159,179 … New thesaurus
infiltrate — ► VERB 1) surreptitiously and gradually enter or gain access to (an organization or place). 2) permeate or cause to permeate by filtration. DERIVATIVES infiltration noun infiltrator noun … English terms dictionary
infiltrate — [in fil′trāt, in′fil trāt΄] vi., vt. infiltrated, infiltrating [ IN 1 + FILTRATE] 1. to pass, or cause (a fluid, cell, etc.) to pass, through small gaps or openings; filter 2. to pass through, as in filtering 3. to pass, or cause (individual… … English World dictionary
infiltrate — [[t]ɪ̱nfɪltreɪt[/t]] infiltrates, infiltrating, infiltrated 1) VERB If people infiltrate a place or organization, or infiltrate into it, they enter it secretly in order to spy on it or influence it. [V n] Activists had infiltrated the student… … English dictionary
infiltrate — in|fil|trate [ˈınfıltreıt US ınˈfıltreıt, ˈınfıl ] v 1.) [>I always + adv/prep, T] to secretly join an organization or enter a place in order to find out information about it or harm it ▪ Police attempts to infiltrate neo Nazi groups were… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Infiltrate — To penetrate. If an IV infiltrates, the IV fluid penetrates the surrounding tissue. * * * 1. To perform or undergo infiltration. 2. SYN: infiltration (2). 3. A cellular infiltration (1) in the lung as inferred from appearance of a localized, ill… … Medical dictionary
infiltrate — UK [ˈɪnfɪltreɪt] / US [ˈɪnfɪlˌtreɪt] / US [ɪnˈfɪlˌtreɪt] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms infiltrate : present tense I/you/we/they infiltrate he/she/it infiltrates present participle infiltrating past tense infiltrated past participle… … English dictionary