puncture

[ puhngk-cher ]
/ ˈpʌŋk tʃər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR puncture ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object), punc·tured, punc·tur·ing.

verb (used without object), punc·tured, punc·tur·ing.

to become punctured: These tires do not puncture easily.

Origin of puncture

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin pūnctūra a pricking, equivalent to pūnct(us) (past participle of pungere to pierce; see pungent), + -ūra -ure

OTHER WORDS FROM puncture

Words nearby puncture

punctuationalism, punctulate, punctum, punctum cecum, punctum vasculosum, puncture, puncture vine, puncture weed, puncture wound, pundit, punditocracy

Words related to puncture

riddle, prick, deflate, penetrate, perforate, rupture, explode, flatten, disprove, flat, cut, opening, leak, damage, break, nick, slit, stab, perforation, jab

Example sentences from the Web for puncture

British Dictionary definitions for puncture

puncture
/ (ˈpʌŋktʃə) /

noun

a small hole made by a sharp object
a perforation and loss of pressure in a pneumatic tyre, made by sharp stones, glass, etc
the act of puncturing or perforating

verb

(tr) to pierce (a hole) in (something) with a sharp object
to cause (something pressurized, esp a tyre) to lose pressure by piercing, or (of a tyre, etc) to be pierced and collapse in this way
(tr) to depreciate (a person's self-esteem, pomposity, etc)

Derived forms of puncture

puncturable, adjective puncturer, noun

Word Origin for puncture

C14: from Latin punctūra, from pungere to prick

Medical definitions for puncture

puncture
[ pŭngk′chər ]

v.

To pierce with a pointed object, as with a needle.

n.

A hole or depression made by a sharp object. centesis