/ pɪəs; NAmE pɪrs/ verb
1.
pierce (through) sth to make a small hole in sth, or to go through sth, with a sharp object :
[ vn ]
The arrow pierced his shoulder.
He pierced another hole in his belt with his knife.
to have your ears / nose, etc. pierced (= to have a small hole made in your ears / nose so that you can wear jewellery there)
( figurative )
She was pierced to the heart with guilt.
[ v ]
The knife pierced through his coat.
2.
pierce (through) sth ( literary ) ( of light, sound, etc. ) to be suddenly seen or heard :
[ vn ]
Sirens pierced the silence of the night.
Shafts of sunlight pierced the heavy mist.
[also v ]
3.
pierce (through) sth to force a way through a barrier
SYN penetrate :
[ vn ]
They failed to pierce the Liverpool defence.
[also v ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French percer , based on Latin pertus- bored through, from the verb pertundere , from per through + tundere thrust.