perforated
Americanadjective
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pierced with a hole or holes.
Punch out along the perforated line.
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Philately. (of a number of stamps joined together) having rows of closely spaced perforations dividing each stamp from the others.
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marked by or having perforation.
a perforated ulcer.
adjective
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pierced with one or more holes
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perf. (esp of stamps) having perforations
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of perforated
Explanation
Something perforated usually contains a series of tiny holes. You might see a perforated line on a utility bill, where you are supposed to tear off that part to mail in with your check. Anything with holes can be said to be perforated, especially if the holes are in a row or series. You wouldn't say something with one hole is perforated. This word can have some grim uses, like if you're talking about a murder victim whose body was perforated with bullets.
Vocabulary lists containing perforated
The Sea of Monsters
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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"Poetry"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perforated and abraded, the artwork has not been on display since its 1941 acquisition.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025
On Monday, Airbus confirmed it was looking at updating the lightning system to a more flexible material called Perforated Copper Foil, a move first reported by Reuters.
From Reuters • Nov. 30, 2021
Perforated pipes encircle the pile driver, blowing a wall of air bubbles that absorb and refract the noise, reducing it by as much as 15 dB.
From Scientific American • Feb. 23, 2021
Perforated aluminum triangles — the pattern on each is unique — form the skin of roof, bordering the transparent portion and changing colors with the sun.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2020
Perforated sheets of metal are slipped into the machine, one after another, and different tunes are played according to the perforations in the metal.
From The Cassowary What Chanced in the Cleft Mountains by Waterloo, Stanley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
