[per.fo.ra te] vb -rat.ed ; -rat.ing [L perforatus, pp. of perforare to bore through, fr. per- through + forare to bore--more at bore] vt (1538) 1: to make a hole through "an ulcer ~s the duodenal wall"; esp: to make a line of holes in to facilitate separation
2: to pass through or into by or as if by making a hole ~ vi: to penetrate a surface -- per.fo.rate adj -- per.fo.ra.tor n