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: perforation, rupture, break

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

/ ˈpʌŋktʃə /

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

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)

Other Word Forms

• puncturable adjective
• punctureless adjective
• puncturer noun
• nonpuncturable adjective
• unpunctured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of puncture¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin pūnctūra “a pricking,” from pūnct(us) “pierced” (past participle of pungere “to pierce”; pungent ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of puncture¹

C14: from Latin punctūra, from pungere to prick

Example Sentences

"A direct impact with bone can cause really significant puncture type wounds, absolutely they are deadly weapons," he said.

Read more on BBC

Sedaghat told a video news outlet that believed he was targeted and that the suspects may have punctured his tires with a knife to get him to pull over, according to KTLA.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"You just don't know if you've got a puncture or the car's just going to spin out on you. And obviously it's a very fast corner, but all good in the end."

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You might have been forgiven for not realizing from such a statement that the three people punctured by a gunman’s bullets were immigrants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lewis Hamilton clipped the wall in his Ferrari, damaging his front wing and giving himself a front-left puncture, on his way to 12th fastest time.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• deflate 
• penetrate 
• perforate 
• prick 
• riddle 
• rupture