perforate

American  

[pur-fuh-reyt, pur-fer-it, -fuh-reyt] / ˈpɜr fəˌreɪt, ˈpɜr fər ɪt, -fəˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

perforated, perforating

1. to make a hole or holes through by boring, punching, piercing, or the like.

2. to pierce through or to the interior of; penetrate.

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verb (used without object)

perforated, perforating

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

adjective

1. perforated.

perforate British  

/ ˈpɜːfərəbəl /

verb

1. to make a hole or holes in (something); penetrate

2. (tr) to punch rows of holes between (stamps, coupons, etc) for ease of separation

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adjective

1. biology

   1. pierced by small holes

      perforate shells

   2. marked with small transparent spots

2. philately another word for perforated

Other Word Forms

• multiperforate
  adjective
• nonperforating
  adjective
• perforable
  adjective
• perforative
  adjective
• perforator
  noun
• unperforable
  adjective
• unperforating
  adjective
• unperforative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of perforate

1530–40; < Latin perforātus, past participle of perforāre to bore ² through; see per-

Explanation

When you perforate something, you make a hole in it, like when you poke holes in a piece of aluminum foil to let steam escape while something is cooking. The word perforate has origins in the Latin word perforatus, the past participle of perforare, meaning “to bore through.” When you perforate something that’s essentially what you do: you bore through it, or punch a hole or holes in it like paper you perforate to fit the rings on your binder, or a leather belt that has been perforated with holes so that you can buckle it.

Example Sentences

Perforate, pierced with holes, or with transparent dots resembling holes, as an Orange-leaf.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Perforate, pėr′fō-rāt, v.t. to bore through: to pierce: to make a hole through.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Related Words

• puncture