v.
Pronunciation: ' p ə r-f ə - ˌ r ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -rat · ed ; -rat · ing
Etymology: Latin perforatus, past participle of perforare to bore through, from per- through + forare to bore ― more at BORE
Date: 1538
transitive verb
1 : to make a hole through <an ulcer perforate s the duodenal wall> especially : to make a line of holes in to facilitate separation
2 : to pass through or into by or as if by making a hole
intransitive verb : to penetrate a surface
– per · fo · rate \ ' p ə r-f( ə -)r ə t, -f ə - ˌ r ā t \ adjective
– per · fo · ra · tor \ -f ə - ˌ r ā -t ə r \ noun