puncture
UK /ˈpʌŋktʃə/ · US /ˈpʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/ noun, verb
Forms punctures puncturing punctured
- noun The act or an instance of puncturing.
- noun A hole, cut, or tear created by a sharp object. “There were two small punctures in his arm where the snake's fangs had pierced the skin.”
- noun (specifically) A hole in a vehicle's tyre, causing the tyre to deflate. “On the way back we got a puncture, and we were stuck at the roadside for three hours until help arrived.”
- verb To pierce; to break through; to tear a hole. “The needle punctured the balloon instantly.”
- verb To destroy the vitality or strength of.
Synonyms
Etymology
L. punctura, fr. pungere, punctum, to prick. See Pungent.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of puncturing; perforating with something pointed.
- noun A small hole made by a point; a slight wound, bite, or sting; as, the puncture of a nail, needle, or pin. A lion may perish by the puncture of an asp. Rambler.
- verb To pierce with a small, pointed instrument, or the like; to prick; to make a puncture in; as, to puncture the skin.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “puncture”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details