Dictionary
punc•ture
Pronunciation: (pungk'chur), [key]
—n., v., -tured, -tur•ing.
—
n.
1. the act of piercing or perforating, as with a pointed instrument or object.
2. a hole or mark so made.
3. Zool.a small pointlike depression.
—
v.t.
1. to pierce or perforate, as with a pointed instrument:
to puncture leather with an awl.
2. to make (a hole, perforation, etc.) by piercing or perforating:
He punctured a row of holes in the cardboard.
3. to make a puncture in:
A piece of glass punctured the tire.
4. to reduce or diminish as if by piercing; damage; wound:
to puncture a person's pride.
5. to cause to collapse or disintegrate; spoil; ruin:
to puncture one's dream of success.
—
v.i.
to become punctured:
These tires do not puncture easily. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.