Advertisement

View synonyms for

puncture

[ puhngk-cher ]

noun

  1. the act of piercing or perforating, as with a pointed instrument or object.
  2. a hole or mark so made.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. Zoology. a small pointlike depression.


verb (used with object)

punctured, puncturing.
  1. to pierce or perforate, as with a pointed instrument:

    to puncture leather with an awl.

  2. to make (a hole, perforation, etc.) by piercing or perforating:

    He punctured a row of holes in the cardboard.

  3. to make a puncture in:

    A piece of glass punctured the tire.

  4. to reduce or diminish as if by piercing; damage; wound:

    to puncture a person's pride.

  5. to cause to collapse or disintegrate; spoil; ruin:

    to puncture one's dream of success.

verb (used without object)

punctured, puncturing.
  1. to become punctured:

    These tires do not puncture easily.

puncture

/ ˈʌŋʃə /

noun

  1. a small hole made by a sharp object
  2. a perforation and loss of pressure in a pneumatic tyre, made by sharp stones, glass, etc
  3. the act of puncturing or perforating
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to pierce (a hole) in (something) with a sharp object
  2. to cause (something pressurized, esp a tyre) to lose pressure by piercing, or (of a tyre, etc) to be pierced and collapse in this way
  3. tr to depreciate (a person's self-esteem, pomposity, etc)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈܲԳٳܰ, adjective
  • ˈܲԳٳܰ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ܲԳtܰ·· adjective
  • ܲԳtܰ· adjective
  • ܲԳtܰ· noun
  • non·ܲԳtܰ·· adjective
  • ܲ·ܲԳtܰ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of puncture1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ūԳū “a pricking,” from ūԳ(ܲ) “pierced” (past participle of pungere “to pierce”; pungent ) + -ure
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of puncture1

C14: from Latin ܲԳū, from pungere to prick
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They’re the contrarian at the party who delights in puncturing polite shibboleths, unafraid to take on even their own tribes in pursuit of a deeper truth.

From

And when he suffered a punctured lung against Manchester United on a tour of the States, he convalesced at the Los Angeles home of McElhenney.

From

And a computer simulation also suggests that punctures in the hull the size of A4 pieces of paper led to the ship's demise.

From

Several soldiers stationed there were charged in February after they were filmed assaulting a detainee, resulting in his hospitalisation for a torn rectum and a punctured lung.

From

He scored 30 points and had seven assists, but more importantly, he helped puncture Oklahoma City’s smothering perimeter defense.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


punctulatepuncture vine