pierced

[ peerst ]
/ pɪərst /

adjective

punctured or perforated, as to form a decorative design: a pendant in pierced copper.
(of the ear) having the lobe punctured, as for earrings.
(of an earring) made to be attached, as by a post or wire, through the hole in a pierced ear lobe.
Heraldry. (of a charge) open at the center to reveal the field: a lozenge pierced.

Origin of pierced

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at pierce, -ed2

OTHER WORDS FROM pierced

un·pierced, adjective

Definition for pierced (2 of 2)

pierce
[ peers ]
/ pɪərs /

verb (used with object), pierced, pierc·ing.

verb (used without object), pierced, pierc·ing.

to force or make a way into or through something; penetrate: to pierce to the heart.

Origin of pierce

1250–1300; Middle English percen < Old French perc(i)er < Vulgar Latin *pertūsiāre, verbal derivative of Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundere to bore a hole through, perforate, equivalent to per- per- + tundere to strike, beat

synonym study for pierce

1. Pierce, penetrate suggest the action of one object passing through another or making a way through and into another. The terms are used both concretely and figuratively. To pierce is to perforate quickly, as by stabbing; it suggests the use of a sharp, pointed instrument which is impelled by force: to pierce the flesh with a knife; a scream pierces one's ears. Penetrate suggests a slow or difficult movement: No ordinary bullet can penetrate an elephant's hide; to penetrate the depths of one's ignorance.

OTHER WORDS FROM pierce

pierce·a·ble, adjective pierc·er, noun un·pierce·a·ble, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for pierced

British Dictionary definitions for pierced (1 of 2)

pierce
/ (pɪəs) /

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of pierce

pierceable, adjective piercer, noun

Word Origin for pierce

C13 percen, from Old French percer, ultimately from Latin pertundere, from per through + tundere to strike

British Dictionary definitions for pierced (2 of 2)

Pierce
/ (pɪəs) /

noun

Franklin. 1804–69, US statesman; 14th president of the US (1853–57)