/ ˈpɪəsɪŋ; NAmE ˈpɪrsɪŋ/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] ( of eyes or the way they look at sb ) seeming to notice things about another person that would not normally be noticed, especially in a way that makes that person feel anxious or embarrassed :
She looked at me with piercing blue eyes.
a piercing look
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( of sounds ) very high, loud and unpleasant
SYN shrill :
a piercing shriek
She has such a piercing voice .
3.
[ only before noun ] ( of feelings ) affecting you very strongly, especially in a way that causes you pain :
piercing sadness
4.
( of the wind or cold ) very strong and feeling as if it can pass through your clothes and skin
5.
[ only before noun ] sharp and able to make a hole in sth :
The animal is covered in long piercing spines.
► pier·cing·ly adverb :
His eyes were piercingly blue.
The weather remained piercingly cold.
■ noun
1.
[ U ] = body piercing
2.
[ C ] the hole that is made in your ear, nose or some other part of your body so that you can wear jewellery there :
She has a tongue piercing.