pierce

From Middle English perce, from Old French percier, from its conjugated forms such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Late Latin *pertūsiō, from Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundō (“thrust or bore through”), from per- (“through”) + tundō (“beat, pound”).

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• Rhymes: -ɪə(r)s

pierce (third-person singular simple present pierces, present participle piercing, simple past and past participle pierced)

1. (transitive) to puncture; to break through

   The diver pierced the surface of the water with scarcely a splash.

   to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship

   • Dryden

     I pierce […] her tender side.

2. (transitive) to create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry

   Can you believe he pierced his tongue?

3. (transitive) to break or interrupt abruptly

   A scream pierced the silence.

4. (transitive, figuratively) To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).

   to pierce a mystery

5. (transitive, figuratively) To penetrate; to affect deeply.
   • Alexander Pope

     pierced with grief

   • Shakespeare

     Can no prayers pierce thee?

• piercing

• → Dutch: piercing
• Japanese: ピアス

• Peirce, piecer, recipe, recipé