- Today's Word
Permeate
PUR-mee-ayt
Definition
- (verb) To spread throughout or penetrate every part of something.
Example
The scent of freshly baked bread permeated the entire house, making everyone’s mouth water.
Fun Fact
Permeation is a fundamental concept in science, from how water seeps through soil to how ideas spread through culture. The term is often used metaphorically—love can permeate a story, tension can permeate a room, and innovation can permeate an industry. Interestingly, in physics and chemistry, permeability describes how easily substances (like gases or liquids) move through materials, which is why certain fabrics “breathe” better than others!
(adjective) Speaking easily, rapidly, and at great length, especially with enthusiasm.
At the dinner party, he became increasingly voluble as the conversation turned to politics.
Voluble comes from the Latin volubilis, meaning “rolling” or “turning easily,” from volvere (“to roll”). The word originally described physical motion, but over time it shifted metaphorically to describe speech that flows freely and continuously, as if words are rolling out without resistance.