perforate

[ verb pur-fuh-reyt; adjective pur-fer-it, -fuh-reyt ]

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

1. perforated.

perforate

/ ˈpɜːfərəbəl /

verb

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

1. biology
   1. pierced by small holes

      perforate shells

   2. marked with small transparent spots
2. philately another word for perforated

Derived Forms

• perforable, adjective
• ˈperforative, adjective
• ˈperfoˌrator, noun

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of perforate¹

1530–40; < Latin perforātus, past participle of perforāre to bore ² through; per-

Word History and Origins

Origin of perforate¹

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

Example Sentences

Several MLB teams have already seen injuries perforate once-promising rotations indefinitely or weaken once-formidable lineups.

From Washington Post

Several MLB teams have already seen injuries perforate once-promising rotations indefinitely or weaken once-formidable lineups.

From Washington Post

For the first 24 days of the month, she will wake up, carefully perforate a window of her Bonne Maman advent calendar and remove a 1¾-inch-tall jar of jam, which she might spread on toast or an English muffin.

From Washington Post

The state has also been a major oil and gas producer for more than a century, and authorities are well aware some 35,000 old, inactive oil and gas wells perforate the landscape.

From Seattle Times

He observes that librarians seem to hate books, eager as they are to perforate and stamp them.

From New York Times

Related Words

• puncture