puncture

1 of 2

noun

punc·​ture ˈpəŋk-chər 

1

: an act of puncturing

2

: a hole, wound, or perforation made by puncturing

3

: a minute depression

puncture

2 of 2

verb

punctured; puncturing ˈpəŋk-chə-riŋ 

ˈpəŋk-shriŋ

transitive verb

1

: to pierce with or as if with a pointed instrument or object

2

: to make useless or ineffective as if by a puncture : deflate

intransitive verb

: to become punctured

Synonyms of puncture

Noun

• prick
• punch
• tear
• perforation
• slit
• stab
• pinhole

Verb

• pierce
• drill
• punch
• poke

Examples of puncture in a Sentence

Noun

a slight puncture of the skin

a leak caused by several small punctures in the rubber gasket

Verb

a nail punctured the tire

I could never puncture my own skin with a hypodermic needle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Clenney claimed to have thrown the knife at Obumseli from a distance of over 10 feet, but prosecutors say an autopsy revealed a puncture wound so deep it could only have been caused by an up-close and personal stabbing. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

The dog bit the 2-year-old in the leg, leaving a deep puncture wound, according to the affidavit. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026

Verb

Under Booster Seats Booster seats can dig into leather car seats and puncture the material over time. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026

The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin punctura, from punctus, past participle of pungere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1675, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing puncture

• lumbar puncture
• puncture vine

Rhymes for puncture

• juncture
• acupuncture
• venipuncture
• conjuncture
• disjuncture

Kids Definition

puncture

1 of 2 noun

punc·​ture ˈpəŋ(k)-chər 

1

: the act of puncturing

2

: a hole or wound made by puncturing

a slight puncture of the skin

a tire puncture

puncture

2 of 2 verb

punctured; puncturing ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-riŋ 

ˈpəŋ(k)-shriŋ

1

: to make a hole with a point

a nail punctured the tire

2

: to suffer a puncture of

punctured the tire on a nail

3

: to become punctured

worn tires puncture easily

4

: to make useless or ridiculous as if by a puncture

puncture an argument

Medical Definition

puncture

1 of 2 noun

punc·​ture ˈpəŋ(k)-chər 

1

: an act of puncturing

2

: a hole, wound, or perforation made by puncturing

puncture

2 of 2 verb

punctured; puncturing ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-riŋ, ˈpəŋ(k)-shriŋ 

transitive verb

: to pierce with or as if with a pointed instrument or object

puncture the skin with a needle

intransitive verb

: to become punctured