PUNCTURE

[verb]The new tyres are made of a stronger rubber so that they puncture less easily. [I]She had used a screwdriver to puncture two holes in the lid of a paint tin. [T]Several broken ribs and a punctured lung were the worst injuries. [T](figurative) The collapse of the Soviet Union punctured (= caused the end of) most people's faith in Communism. [T](figurative) Most of the players are tough working-class lads, so any inflated egos tend to be quickly punctured (= made smaller). [T]