— puncturable , adj. — punctureless , adj. — puncturer , n.
/pungk"cheuhr/ , n. , v. , punctured, puncturing .
n.
1. the act of piercing or perforating, as with a pointed instrument or object.
2. a hole or mark so made.
3. Zool. a small pointlike depression.
v.t.
4. to pierce or perforate, as with a pointed instrument: to puncture leather with an awl.
5. to make (a hole, perforation, etc.) by piercing or perforating: He punctured a row of holes in the cardboard.
6. to make a puncture in: A piece of glass punctured the tire.
7. to reduce or diminish as if by piercing; damage; wound: to puncture a person's pride.
8. to cause to collapse or disintegrate; spoil; ruin: to puncture one's dream of success.
v.i.
9. to become punctured: These tires do not puncture easily.
[ 1350-1400; ME punctura a pricking, equiv. to punct ( us ) (ptp. of pungere to pierce; see PUNGENT), + -ura -URE ]
Syn. 2. break, rupture, perforation.