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| pierce [ peerss ] (past and past participle pierced, present participle pierc·ing, 3rd person present singular pierc·es) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb bore into something: to penetrate through or into something with a sharp pointed object
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2. transitive verb put hole in something: to make a hole through something
  She had her ears pierced.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb penetrate barrier: to break through a barrier of some kind such as a defensive line or security system
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4. transitive and intransitive verb gain sight or knowledge: to perceive something with the eyes or the mind
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5. transitive and intransitive verb penetrate something with sound or light: to sound or shine suddenly and sharply through something such as silence or darkness
A dreadful scream pierced the silence.
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6. transitive verb affect somebody deeply: to have a sudden, intense, often painful effect on somebody
A stab of fear pierced his heart.
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| [13th century. Via French percer< Latin pertundere "bore through" < tundere "to bore"] |
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| pierc·er noun |
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