From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpermeateper‧me‧ate /ˈpɜːmieɪt $ ˈpɜːr-/ verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]ENTER if liquid, gas etc permeates something, it enters it and spreads through every part of it The smell of diesel oil permeated the air.permeate through/into Rain permeates through the ground to add to ground water levels.2 [transitive]SPREAD if ideas, beliefs, emotions etc permeate something, they are present in every part of it Racism continues to permeate our society. An emotional intensity permeates every one of O'Connor’s songs.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
permeate• Many lively strains were present in that hybrid, and they permeated all religious practices.• Money values permeate every aspect of our existence.• Water is a primal element; it permeates everything, including us.• Smoke from smouldering sandalwood permeated everything.• The rain had finished, leaving in its wake a vast, permeating leakage, the river noise of runoff.• Sunlight streamed into the church and through the stained glass windows, and a smell of grass and flowers permeated the air.• Soon the gas had permeated the entire area.• There is a culture of racism that permeates the entire organization.• The smell of smoke permeated the house.• There is evidence that the same trends have begun to permeate the private sector.• Toxic chemicals may permeate the soil, threatening the environment.permeate through/into• Toxic vapors can permeate into the plaster and wood.Origin permeate (1600-1700) Latin past participle of permeare “to go through” 