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Words To Go is a blog for folks looking to expand and improve their everyday vocabulary.  Each day, three new words will be featured with their definitions and examples of their use.

Make a commitment to use the words both conversationally and in the written word. 

Today's Words For January 4, 2012

Abate

Permeate

Invasive

Abate

To reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.

To put an end to or suppress

To suspend or extinguish.

To annul.

To deduct or subtract: to abate part of the cost.

To omit: to abate all mention of names.

To remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.

The hurricane winds that were ripping through the coast have finally abated.

Permeate

To pass into or through every part of:  Bright sunshine permeated the room.

To penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.

To be diffused through; pervade, saturate: Cynicism permeated his report.

To become diffused; penetrate

The theatre had the smell of stale popcorn permeating the air. 

Invasive

Characterized by or involving invasion; offensive: invasive war.

Invading, or tending to invade; intrusive

Requiring the entry of a needle, catheter, or other instrument into a part of the body, especially in a diagnostic procedures, as a biopsy.

Although it was not an invasive procedure, he was concerned all the same.