piercing

[ peer-sing ]
/ ˈpɪər sɪŋ /

adjective

loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice.
extremely cold or bitter: a piercing wind.
appearing to gaze deeply or penetratingly into something: piercing eyes.
perceptive or aware; acute: a piercing mind.
sarcastic or caustic; cutting: piercing remarks.

Origin of piercing

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at pierce, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM piercing

pierc·ing·ly, adverb pierc·ing·ness, noun un·pierc·ing, adjective

Definition for piercing (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 piercing

British Dictionary definitions for piercing (1 of 3)

piercing
/ (ˈpɪəsɪŋ) /

adjective

(of a sound) sharp and shrill
(of eyes or a look) intense and penetrating
(of an emotion) strong and deeply affecting
(of cold or wind) intense or biting

noun

the art or practice of piercing body parts for the insertion of jewellery
an instance of the piercing of a body part

Derived forms of piercing

piercingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for piercing (2 of 3)

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 piercing (3 of 3)

Pierce
/ (pɪəs) /

noun

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