perforate

verb

per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt How to pronounce perforate (audio)
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 How to pronounce perforate (audio)
-fə-ˌrāt
adjective
perforator noun

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 Neptune's Fix Elixir and Extra Strength Elixir sold in amber glass bottles with a label that covers the entire cap/bottle and is perforated at the cap. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2024 The front and back of the speaker sport perforated metallic grilles, with cloth grilles beneath. PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024 Unlike a regular baking tray, this carbon-steel pan is perforated to get that crispy base. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2024 It's perforated to release the water when the wash cycle finishes. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023 Within a day, the decisions got harder: her colon perforated, and the pain was excruciating. Shravya Pant — Medill News Service, STAT, 20 Dec. 2023 As a bonus, the pages are perforated so they can be torn out and kept in binders, folders, or on the inside of a locker door. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2023 The home’s version, cut from white industrial steel perforated with thousands of tiny holes, similarly appears to waft weightlessly upward before disappearing into the brilliant white glow of the skylight above it. Alice Newell-Hanson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 Among Haviland's injuries were five stab wounds to the chest – three perforating his left lung and another hitting his heart – and blunt force trauma to the head, per police documents. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perforate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of perforate was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near perforate

Cite this Entry

“Perforate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perforate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

perforate

verb
per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt How to pronounce perforate (audio)
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 How to pronounce perforate (audio)
-fə-ˌrāt
adjective
perforator noun

Medical Definition

perforate

verb
per·​fo·​rate ˈpər-fə-ˌrāt How to pronounce perforate (audio)
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 perforatingJournal of the American Medical Association

More from Merriam-Webster on perforate

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