perforate

verb

per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt 

perforated; perforating

transitive verb

1

: to make a hole through

especially : to make a line of holes in to facilitate separation

2

: to pass through or into by or as if by making a hole

intransitive verb

: to penetrate a surface

perforate

ˈpər-f(ə-)rət 

-fə-ˌrāt

adjective

perforator

ˈpər-fə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms of perforate

• pierce
• drill
• punch

Examples of perforate in a Sentence

Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, and then use a fork to perforate the foil.

he perforated the sheet with his pencil and put it in his binder

Recent Examples on the Web

Millie's bowels then perforated before she was born, causing her stomach to swell. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026

The knife perforated the bone at the center of his chest, the sac that surrounds his heart, and penetrated the right ventricle of his heart. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

The best styles to scoop up have perforated details for airflow and are made of lightweight materials like canvas to keep your feet cool and comfy. — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 23 June 2026

This fat line fed a series of narrower pipes in the tower, which ran along the corners of every floor, wall, and ceiling, and were perforated to spray gas into the rooms. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin perforatus, past participle of perforare to bore through, from per- through + forare to bore — more at bore

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for perforate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

perforate

verb

per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt 

perforated; perforating

: to make a hole or series of holes through

especially : to make a line of holes to make tearing easy and neat

sheets of stamps are perforated

perforate

ˈpər-f(ə-)rət 

-fə-ˌrāt

adjective

perforator

-fə-ˌrāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

perforate

verb

per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt 

perforated; perforating

transitive verb

1

: to make a hole through

an ulcer perforates the duodenal wall

2

: to enter or extend through

the nerve perforates the dura mater

intransitive verb

: to penetrate a surface

the wound in the forearm was perforating

—The Journal of the American Medical Association