WordGarden.iopuncture
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈʌŋktʃə/
US
- /ˈpəŋkʃər/
Meanings
Verb
to make a small hole in something with a sharp point
to make a tire or other inflatable object go flat by making a hole in it
to deflate or undermine something such as a claim, illusion, or mood
Noun
a small wound or hole made by a pointed object or needle
a hole in a tire or other inflatable object that makes it go flat
Beyond the definition
Imagine riding your bike and rolling over a sharp nail. Suddenly, the tire has a tiny hole and the air starts to leak out. That is a puncture. It means making a small hole with something sharp, often in a way that lets air or liquid escape.
The word is often used for physical damage, like a nail going through a tire or a thorn going into skin. It can also be used in a figurative way. A strong question can puncture someone's argument by showing a weak point. A sudden comment can puncture the silence in a room by breaking it.
To puncture something means to pierce it with a sharp object, creating a hole. This is most commonly associated with physical objects – think of a nail puncturing a car tire or a thorn puncturing your finger. "The balloon was punctured by a stray dart." It implies a sudden and often unwanted breach in something that was meant to hold air, liquid, or pressure.
However, puncture isn't limited to the physical world. It is frequently used figuratively to mean breaking through or exposing a weakness in an argument, idea, or facade. For example: "The journalist punctured the politician's carefully constructed image with revealing questions." This means the questions exposed flaws and inconsistencies that undermined the politician's credibility.
You might also hear puncture used to describe breaking through an atmosphere or an emotional barrier. "Her outburst finally punctured the awkward silence in the room." Or, "He tried to puncture her defenses, hoping she would finally open up about her feelings."
Historically, puncture was a medical term referring to piercing the skin or an organ with a needle for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes—a usage still seen today in procedures like a "lumbar puncture."
So, whether it's a flat tire, a flawed argument, or a broken silence, to puncture means to pierce, break through, or expose something—often unexpectedly and sometimes damagingly.
Examples
- 1
Tire damage
I hit a nail on the road and punctured my front tire.
- 2
Flat tire
We had to stop because the bike had a puncture.
- Usagehave a puncture
have a flat tire, especially in British English
- 3
Packaging
Be careful not to puncture the packet with the scissors.
- 4
Confidence
One rude comment was enough to puncture his confidence.
- Patternpuncture someone's confidence
suddenly make them feel much less confident
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
False idea
The report punctured the myth that the system was working well.
- Patternpuncture a myth or idea
show that it is false
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- puncturenounverb
Forms
- puncturedpast tenseverbnoun
- puncturespluralnounverb
- puncturing-ing formverbnoun