pierc´er

pierc´er
pierce «peers, pihrs», verb, pierced, pierc|ing.
–v.t.
1. to make a hole in; bore into or through: »

to pierce leather with an awl. A nail pierced the tire of our car.

 SYNONYM(S): prick, perforate.
2. to go into; go through: »

A tunnel pierces the mountain.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under penetrate. (Cf. ↑penetrate)
3. to force a way through or into; force a way: »

to pierce a line of defense.Figurative. The cold wind pierced our clothes.Figurative. A sharp cry pierced the air.

4. Figurative. to make a way through with the eye or the mind: »

to pierce a disguise, to pierce a mystery.

5. Figurative. to affect sharply with some feeling: »

Her heart was pierced with grief. Can no prayers pierce thee? (Shakespeare).

–v.i.
to force or make a way into or through something: »

Figurative. a chill that pierced into the marrow (Robert Louis Stevenson).

 SYNONYM(S): penetrate.
╂[Middle English percen < Old French percier < Vulgar Latin pertūsiāre to bore, or press through < Latin pertundere < per- through + tundere to beat]
–pierc´er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pierc — pierc·er; pierc·ing·ly; pierc·ing·ness; …   English syllables

  • pierc´ing|ness — pierc|ing 1 «PEER sihng, PIHR », adjective. that pierces; penetrating: »Figurative. piercing cold, a piercing look;Figurative. eyes, blue and piercing, truly eagle like…perhaps staring into his own fierce spirit (Edmund Wilson). SYNONYM(S): sharp …   Useful english dictionary

  • pierc´ing|ly — pierc|ing 1 «PEER sihng, PIHR », adjective. that pierces; penetrating: »Figurative. piercing cold, a piercing look;Figurative. eyes, blue and piercing, truly eagle like…perhaps staring into his own fierce spirit (Edmund Wilson). SYNONYM(S): sharp …   Useful english dictionary

  • pierc|ing — 1 «PEER sihng, PIHR », adjective. that pierces; penetrating: »Figurative. piercing cold, a piercing look;Figurative. eyes, blue and piercing, truly eagle like…perhaps staring into his own fierce spirit (Edmund Wilson). SYNONYM(S): sharp, keen.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ear-pierc|ing — «IHR PIHR sihng», adjective. piercing or irritating to the ear, as a shrill or sharp sound: »an ear piercing scream …   Useful english dictionary

  • piercer — pierc·er …   English syllables

  • piercing — pierc|ing1 [ pırsıŋ ] adjective ▸ 1 loud/high/unpleasant ▸ 2 about eyes ▸ 3 wind/air: painfully cold ▸ 4 feelings: very strong ▸ 5 light: strong and bright 1. ) very loud, high, and unpleasant: PENETRATING: a piercing scream/whistle 2. ) MAINLY… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • piercing — pierc•ing [[t]ˈpɪər sɪŋ[/t]] adj. 1) loud; shrill 2) extremely cold or bitter 3) appearing to gaze deeply into something 4) perceptive or aware 5) sarcastic; cutting • Etymology: 1375–1425 pierc′ing•ly, adv …   From formal English to slang

  • piercing — pierc|ing1 [ˈpıəsıŋ US ˈpır ] adj ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(eyes/look)¦ 2¦(sound)¦ 3¦(wind)¦ 4¦(pain)¦ 5¦(emotion)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(EYES/LOOK)¦ literary someone with piercing eyes is looking at you and seems to know what you are thinking ▪ There was mockery now… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • piercingly — pierc·ing·ly …   English syllables

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