n.
Pronunciation: ' pirs
Function: verb
Inflected Form: pierced ; pierc · ing
Etymology: Middle English percen, from Anglo-French percer, from Vulgar Latin *pertusiare, from Latin pertusus, past participle of pertundere to perforate, from per- through + tundere to beat ― more at PER- , CONTUSION
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : STAB b : to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully
2 : to make a hole through : PERFORATE
3 : to force or make a way into or through
4 : to penetrate with the eye or mind : DISCERN
5 : to penetrate so as to move or touch the emotions of
intransitive verb : to force a way into or through something
synonyms see ENTER
– pierc · er noun