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

Lemmo Lemmo's gone with a 960-Wh semi-solid state battery, which reportedly allows for up to 110 miles (180 km) of range and won't go up in flames from punctures or thermal runaway incidents. — New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026

The 10-month-old boy had a deep puncture wound in his upper chest area, while the 3-year-old girl had an inner organ protruding out of a chest-area wound. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

At stake are large payments the state receives as part of the compact, which the Tribe could suspend if its monopoly on sports betting is punctured. — Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Executioners spent more than two hours trying to find a vein, possibly puncturing his bladder before giving up. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 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