infiltration

From Middle English infiltracioun, from Medieval Latin infiltrātiōnem, infiltrātiō. Morphologically infiltrate +‎ -ion

• IPA^(key): /ɪnfɪlˈtɹeɪʃən/

• Audio (Southern England)

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infiltration (countable and uncountable, plural infiltrations)

1. The act or process of infiltrating, as of water into a porous substance, or of a fluid into the cells of an organ or part of the body.
   1. (hydrology, soil science) process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
2. The substance which has entered the pores or cavities of a body.
   • 1784, Richard Kirwan, Elements of Mineralogy

     calcareous infiltrations filling the cavities

3. The act of secretly entering a physical location and/or organization.
   • 2019, Peter Hartcher, “Power and Paranoia: Why the Chinese government aggressively pushes beyond its borders”, in The Sydney Morning Herald‎:

     No one should be under any illusions about the objective of the Communist Party leadership: it’s long-term, systematic infiltration of social organisations, media and government. By the time China’s infiltration of Australia is readily apparent, it will be too late.

infiltration f (plural infiltrations)

1. infiltration

• “infiltration”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

infiltration (plural infiltrationes)

1. infiltration (act of infiltrating; substance that has infiltrated)