[puhngk-cher] 
noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing.| 1. | the act of piercing or perforating, as with a pointed instrument or object. |
| 2. | a hole or mark so made. |
| 3. | Zoology. a small pointlike depression. |
| 4. | to pierce or perforate, as with a pointed instrument: to puncture leather with an awl. |
| 5. | to make (a hole, perforation, etc.) by piercing or perforating: He punctured a row of holes in the cardboard. |
| 6. | to make a puncture in: A piece of glass punctured the tire. |
| 7. | to reduce or diminish as if by piercing; damage; wound: to puncture a person's pride. |
| 8. | to cause to collapse or disintegrate; spoil; ruin: to puncture one's dream of success. |
| 9. | to become punctured: These tires do not puncture easily. |
| punc·ture (pŭngk'chər) v. punc·tured, punc·tur·ing, punc·tures v. tr.
To be pierced or punctured. n.
[From Middle English, a pricking, from Late Latin pūnctūra, from pūnctus, past participle of pungere, to prick; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.] punc'tur·a·ble adj. |
puncture punc·ture (pŭngk'chər)
v. punc·tured, punc·tur·ing, punc·tures
To pierce with a pointed object, as with a needle. n.
A hole or depression made by a sharp object. Also called centesis.
tʃər