perforate

[ verb pur-fuh-reyt; adjective pur-fer-it, -fuh-reyt ]
See synonyms for perforate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),per·fo·rat·ed, per·fo·rat·ing.
  1. to make a hole or holes through by boring, punching, piercing, or the like.

  2. to pierce through or to the interior of; penetrate.

verb (used without object),per·fo·rat·ed, per·fo·rat·ing.
  1. to make a way through or into something; penetrate.

adjective

Origin of perforate

1
1530–40; <Latin perforātus, past participle of perforāre to bore2 through; see per-

Other words from perforate

  • per·for·a·ble, adjective
  • per·fo·ra·tive, adjective
  • per·fo·ra·tor, noun
  • mul·ti·per·fo·rate, adjective
  • non·per·fo·rat·ing, adjective
  • un·per·for·a·ble, adjective
  • un·per·fo·rat·ing, adjective
  • un·per·fo·ra·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perforate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perforate

perforate

verb(ˈpɜːfəˌreɪt)
  1. to make a hole or holes in (something); penetrate

  2. (tr) to punch rows of holes between (stamps, coupons, etc) for ease of separation

adjective(ˈpɜːfərɪt)
  1. biology

    • pierced by small holes: perforate shells

    • marked with small transparent spots

  2. philately another word for perforated (def. 2)

Origin of perforate

1
C16: from Latin perforāre, from per- through + forāre to pierce

Derived forms of perforate

  • perforable (ˈpɜːfərəbəl), adjective
  • perforative or perforatory, adjective
  • perforator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012