■ verb
1》 make a hole in or through with a sharp pointed object.
2》 force or cut a way through: a shrill voice ~d the air.
3》 [as adjective piercing ] very sharp, cold, or high-pitched.
↘very astute or intelligent.
Derivatives
~r noun
piercingly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. percer , based on L. pertus- , pertundere 'bore through'.