pierce

¹

[ peers ]

verb (used with object)

, pierced, pierc·ing.

1. to penetrate into or run through (something), as a sharp, pointed dagger, object, or instrument does.

   Synonyms: puncture, enter

2. to make a hole or opening in.
3. to bore into or through; tunnel.
4. to perforate.
5. to make (a hole, opening, etc.) by or as by boring or perforating.
6. to make a way or path into or through:

   a road that pierces the dense jungle.

7. to penetrate with the eye or mind; see into or through:

   She couldn't pierce his thoughts.

8. to affect sharply with some sensation or emotion, as of cold, pain, or grief:

   The wind pierced her body. Her words pierced our hearts.

   Synonyms: thrill, strike, move, touch

9. to sound sharply through (the air, stillness, etc.):

   A pistol shot pierced the night.

verb (used without object)

, pierced, pierc·ing.

1. to force or make a way into or through something; penetrate:

   to pierce to the heart.

Pierce

²

[ peers ]

noun

1. Franklin, 1804–69, 14th president of the U.S. 1853–57.
2. John Robinson, 1910–2002, U.S. electrical engineer: helped develop communications satellites.
3. a male given name, form of Peter.

pierce

¹

/ pɪəs /

verb

1. to form or cut (a hole) in (something) with or as if with a sharp instrument
2. to thrust into or penetrate sharply or violently

   the thorn pierced his heel

3. to force (a way, route, etc) through (something)
4. (of light) to shine through or penetrate (darkness)
5. also intr to discover or realize (something) suddenly or (of an idea) to become suddenly apparent
6. (of sounds or cries) to sound sharply through (the silence)
7. to move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc) deeply or sharply

   the cold pierced their bones

8. intr to penetrate or be capable of penetrating

   piercing cold

Pierce

²

/ pɪəs /

noun

1. PierceFranklin18041869MUSPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: head of state Franklin. 1804–69, US statesman; 14th president of the US (1853–57)

Derived Forms

• ˈpierceable, adjective
• ˈpiercer, noun

Other Words From

• piercea·ble adjective
• piercer noun
• un·piercea·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pierce¹

1250–1300; Middle English percen < Old French perc ( i ) er < Vulgar Latin *pertūsiāre, verbal derivative of Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundere to bore a hole through, perforate, equivalent to per- per- + tundere to strike, beat

Word History and Origins

Origin of pierce¹

C13 percen, from Old French percer, ultimately from Latin pertundere, from per through + tundere to strike

Synonym Study

Pierce, penetrate suggest the action of one object passing through another or making a way through and into another. The terms are used both concretely and figuratively. To pierce is to perforate quickly, as by stabbing; it suggests the use of a sharp, pointed instrument which is impelled by force: to pierce the flesh with a knife; a scream pierces one's ears. Penetrate suggests a slow or difficult movement: No ordinary bullet can penetrate an elephant's hide; to penetrate the depths of one's ignorance.

Example Sentences

She had low-grade blood poisoning in her ear from the pin she used to pierce it.

From The Daily Beast

PIERCE BROSNAN The Irish actor and ex-James Bond—whose father was Scottish—is cool either way.

From The Daily Beast

Murphy rarely mentions the law in his appearances in this district running from north of Palm Beach to Fort Pierce.

From The Daily Beast

Pierce sounded genuinely anguished about the unintended consequences of the bill he supported.

From The Daily Beast

I thought you were a hoot on Community as the lawyer for the estate of Pierce.

From The Daily Beast

If the hunter venture to come close to such a monster, and his dagger fail to pierce the vital spot, there is no help for him.

From Project Gutenberg

Loftily pierce the tall white minarets into the quivering heavens, while the solemn cypress throws its shade below.

From Project Gutenberg

But one morning the sky was gray and gloomy, and the sun could not pierce through the heavy clouds.

From Project Gutenberg

The vociferous tones pierce my ears, and my heart bleeds at his meaningless declamation.

From Project Gutenberg

No cry of tormented soul shall pierce these walls of stone, much less the heart of man.

From Project Gutenberg