pierce

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To puncture; to break through.
2. (transitive) To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry.
3. (transitive) to break or interrupt abruptly
4. (figuratively, transitive) To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).
5. (figuratively, transitive) To penetrate; to affect deeply.

Noun

A pierced earring.

Synonyms

stab

prick

penetrate

perforate

bore

puncture

spear

thrust

poke

drill

sting

enter

punch

👊

jab

split

stick in

cut

impale

stick

probe

gore

permeate

make a hole

insert

hole

🕳️

transfix

stick into

pervade

strike

break through

cleave

hit

go through

break

shoot through

knife

🔪

pick

⛏️

drive in

thrust into

rend

make a hole in

touch

wound

sink in

sew

stitch

lance

broach

skewer

tear

Translations

percer

durchbohren

perforar

agujerear

perforare

durchstechen

horadar

furar

foradar

piquer

lochen

👊

bohren

stechen

pungere

perfurar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɪɹs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: perce

In summary

From Middle English perce, from conjugated forms of Old French percier such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertūsiō, from Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundō (“thrust or bore through”), from per- (“through”) + tundō (“beat, pound”). Displaced native Old English þȳrlian (literally “to hole”).