Pierce Definition & Meaning

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  • American
  • British
  • Usage
  • Related Words
  • Other Word Forms
  • Etymology
  • Examples
    • Synonyms pierce 1 American [peers] / pɪərs /

    verb (used with object)

    pierced, piercing

    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, piercing

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

      to pierce to the heart.

    Pierce 2 American [peers] / pɪərs /

    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 British / 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

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Pierce 2 British / pɪəs /

    noun

    1. Franklin. 1804–69, US statesman; 14th president of the US (1853–57)

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Usage

    What does pierce mean? To pierce something is to penetrate or puncture it, usually with something sharp, making a hole in the process.This sense of the word is associated with needles and other thin, sharp objects used to pierce surfaces. To pierce someone’s ear is to make a hole in it with a needle so that an earring can be inserted. This is called a piercing.The word can be used in the context of someone doing the piercing, as in You will need to pierce the skin with this needle, or in the context of an object piercing something, as in The needle pierced the skin. Things that have been pierced can be described with the adjective pierced, as in pierced ears. Things that pierce aren’t always sharp. Sometimes, things pierce by penetrating with force. For example, bullets and artillery shells that are designed to pierce protective coverings and shields are described as armor-piercing.More broadly, pierce can mean to make a hole, opening, tunnel, or path into or through something, as in The mountain is pierced by a long tunnel. These literal senses of pierce are the basis of several figurative senses of the word.Pierce can mean to see into or through, as if penetrating something with the eye or mind, as in Her stare pierced my soul. It can also mean to affect intensely or sharply, as in The wind pierced my face or Your writing needs to pierce the reader’s heart. An insult can pierce you in this way—meaning it can cut you deeply.Similarly, shrill sounds can be said to pierce your ears, the air, or the stillness, and light can be said to pierce the darkness.The word piercing can also be used as an adjective to describe things that are intense, penetrating, or sharp in a figurative way, as in a piercing wind, a piercing scream, a piercing stare, or a piercing remark.Example: This tarp is pretty thick, so to pierce it you’ll have to really stab the stake through it forcefully.

    Related Words

    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.

    Other Word Forms

    • pierceable adjective
    • piercer noun
    • unpierceable adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of pierce

    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

    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.

    Amid the fusillade of terrible headlines this year, one pierced my nerdy heart.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Instead it helps bring home the horror movie’s big theme about the transcendence of art for oppressed people, including “music so true it can pierce the veil between life and death.”

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Santa Margarita’s defense must be pierced for Centennial to win.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Scotland's bill covers all beauty and wellbeing treatments that pierce or penetrate the skin.

    From BBC

    Dark-haired, with piercing eyes, Amelia tried to maintain a normal teenage life.

    From Los Angeles Times

    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.

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