pierce

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: PierceFranklin PiercePresident Piercethrust

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. 14th President of the United States (1804-1869)Synonyms: PierceFranklin PiercePresident Pierce

Verb (5)

  1. cut or make a way through“the knife cut through the flesh”“The path pierced the jungle”“Light pierced through the forest”
  2. move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply“The cold pierced her bones”“Her words pierced the students”
  3. sound sharply or shrilly“The scream pierced the night”
  4. penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrumentSynonyms: thrust
  5. make a hole into“The needle pierced her flesh”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Pierce \Pierce\, v. i. To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively. [1913 Webster]

And pierced to the skin, but bit no more. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

She would not pierce further into his meaning. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

Pierce \Pierce\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing.] [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.]

1.To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. "I pierce . . . her tender side." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2.To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship. [1913 Webster]

3.Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. "Pierced with grief." --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Can no prayers pierce thee?— Shak.[1913 Webster]
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