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

Our reviewer, Steven Poole, wrote that “the book proceeds like a convoluted murder mystery, introducing one suspect after another in what seems like an open-and-shut case, before puncturing the promising narrative with an inconvenient fact.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The bullet’s path continued through her ribs until it eventually punctured her chest and exited her body from her upper chest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Last week’s decisive break below the very round $100,000 level, puncturing a bear flag, could leave a lasting mark on sentiment.

Read more on Barron's

But Australian confidence was further punctured by a fired-up Ireland, who immediately set about atoning for their sluggish start in last week's uninspiring win over Japan with renewed intent and aggression.

Read more on BBC

The 32-year-old now faces a long road to recovery and has to learn to walk after suffering multiple broken bones and a punctured lung.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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