I. ˈpi(ə)rs, -iəs verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English percen, from Old French percer, percier, perhaps from (assumed) Vulgar Latin pertusiare, from Latin pertusus, past participle of pertundere to pierce, from per through + tundere to beat, pound — more at for , stutter
transitive verb
1.
a. : to run into or through as a pointed instrument or weapon does : make a thrust into or through : stab
the needle pierced an ear lobe
argued that the meaty edges of steak neither should be gashed or pierced with a fork — Jane Nickerson
pierced his side with a spear
the rigid, eternal obelisk piercing the mist like a sword — Louis Bromfield
b. : to penetrate sharply or painfully
the cold pierced him to the bone
tight-lipped whistles pierced the din — Darrell Berrigan
bullets pierced his flesh
2. : to make a hole in or through : bore , perforate , tunnel
cylinders pierced by three or more … longitudinal perforations — Encyc. Americana
the marble walls are pierced with four doors — American Guide Series: New Jersey
the railway tunnel … pierces the rolling uplands — Guy McCrone
3. : to force or make a way into or through : break into or through
wanted to get swiftly through the field of fire and pierce and overthrow the enemy lines — Tom Wintringham
the market … has already made new lows for the year and the question in the minds of technical followers is whether it will pierce the lows of last October — C.N.Stabler
4. : to penetrate with the eye or mind : see through : comprehend , discern
stood hidden in the doorway of an old empty house, piercing the darkness with wild eyes — Liam O'Flaherty
a Shakespeare, piercing and developing the springs of passion — T.L.Peacock
the curious and indiscreet who might wish to pierce the mystery that is taking place in the temple — J.G.Frazer
5. : to penetrate so as to move or touch the emotions of : affect poignantly
the remembrance of all that made life dear pierced me to the core — W.H.Hudson †1922
intransitive verb
: to make a way into or through something as a pointed instrument does : break through : enter , penetrate
tried to pierce into the enigma of her conduct for some sort of meaning
Synonyms: see enter
II. noun
( -s )
1. : piercing , stab
2. : a pierced hole : perforation