/ ˈpʌŋktʃə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
( BrE ) a small hole in a tyre made by a sharp point :
I had a puncture on the way and arrived late.
—see also flat noun (6)
2.
a small hole, especially in the skin, made by a sharp point
■ verb
1.
to make a small hole in sth; to get a small hole :
[ vn ]
to puncture a tyre
She was taken to the hospital with broken ribs and a punctured lung.
[ v ]
One of the front tyres had punctured.
2.
[ vn ] to suddenly make sb feel less confident, proud, etc. :
to puncture sb's confidence
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin punctura , from punct- pricked, from the verb pungere . The verb dates from the late 17th cent.