noun
puncture
PUHNGKT-shuh
noun
1
A small hole made by something sharp, especially in a tyre.
"We had to stop because of a puncture."
verb
1
To pierce something, making a small hole, or to spoil or weaken something suddenly.
"A nail punctured the front tyre."
"The bad news punctured his confidence."
How to Use Puncture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small hole from something sharp, or to make one — also used figuratively for deflating confidence or an idea.
Common pairings
puncture a tyre
puncture the silence
puncture someone's confidence
Word Forms
punctured past tense, punctures plural, punctures singular
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Etymology
From Late Latin punctura, from pungere, "to prick."