Word a Day
pierce
What does pierce mean?
pierce (verb): to puncture; to break through.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use pierce in a sentence?
- The diver pierced the surface of the water with scarcely a splash. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
How do you pronounce pierce?
/pɪɹs/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does pierce come from?
From Middle English perce, from conjugated forms of Old French percier such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertūsiō.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “pierce”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “pierce” mean?
to move forwards; to approach
Not quite: that's what advance means.
to manage, control, or direct
Not quite: that's what handle means.
to bring (a thing) up to date
Not quite: that's what update means.
to puncture; to break through
Right! That's what “pierce” means.
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