Meaning
piercing, sharp
- able to pierce or permeate; intense and acute (of gaze, smell, cold, sound)
- keen, perceptive, or insightful (of mind or intellect)
In a sentence
C'era un freddo penetrante che toglieva il fiato a tutti.
There was a piercing cold that took everyone's breath away.
Il professore fissò lo studente con uno sguardo penetrante.
The professor fixed the student with a penetrating look.
Dalla cucina proveniva un odore acre e assai penetrante.
A harsh and very pungent smell came from the kitchen.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| penetrante | masculine · singular |
| penetrante | feminine · singular |
| penetranti | masculine · plural |
| penetranti | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Ends in -e, so it has the same form for masculine and feminine singular.
- Plural is 'penetranti' for both genders.