puncture Definition
punc·ture (puŋk′c̸hər)
noun
- the act or an instance of perforating or piercing
- a hole made by a sharp point, as in an automobile tire, the skin, etc.
Etymology: ME < L punctura, a pricking < L pungere, to pierce: see point
transitive verb -·tured, -·tur·ing
- to perforate or pierce with a sharp point
- to reduce or put an end to, as if by a puncture to puncture one's pride
intransitive verb
to be punctured
puncture Related Forms
punc′·tur·able adjective
puncture Synonyms
puncture Synonyms
puncture Usage Examples
Object
- lung: The second time, he punctured a lung in a biking accident.
- tire: Would you replace a punctured tire or call for help?
- myth: Finally Dr. Finch punctures the myth that identity theft is all about money.
Converse of object
- mend: Don't waste time trying to mend a puncture by the side of the road.
- fix: Learn to fix a puncture or change your brake blocks.
- suffer: At 29 miles Curran suffered a front wheel puncture on a descent.
Adjective modifier
- lumbar: A lumbar puncture was taken which didn't show anything.
- dural: Accidental dural puncture is usually easily recognized by the immediate loss of CSF through the epidural needle.
- arterial: To avoid arterial puncture the operator's fingers gently pull the carotid artery away from the midline.
- accidental: Accidental puncture of the artery which may cause bleeding.
- slow: Without them, the circle gets blown out or goes into slow puncture.
Modifies a noun
- wound: They cause tiny puncture wounds in the skin which are very itchy.
- sealant: We have discontinued the liquid puncture sealant because it isn't very effective.
- resistant: All our bikes have ' puncture resistant ' tires.
- repair: Should I use a puncture repair kit or just replace the inner tube?
- kit: Should I use a puncture repair kit or just replace the inner tube?
- resistance: Avoid cheap tires, that don't offer good grip, or puncture resistance.
Noun used with modifier
Browse dictionary entries near puncture
- ‹ punctulate
- ‹ punctuation mark
- ‹ punctuation
- ‹ punctuated equilibrium
- ‹ punctuate
- ‹ punctuality
- ‹ punctual
- ‹ punctilious
- ‹ punctilio
- ‹ punctate
- punctured ›
- pundit ›
- Pune ›
- pung ›
- pungent ›
- Punic ›
- Punic Wars ›
- puniness ›
- punish ›
- punishable ›

