perforated

UK: /ˈpɜː^rfəreɪtɪd/ US: (pûr′fə rā′tid)

From the verb perforate: (⇒ conjugate)

perforated is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•fo•rat•ed  (pûr′fə rā′tid), adj. 

1. pierced with a hole or holes:
   Punch out along the perforated line.
2. Stamps [Philately.] (of a number of stamps joined together) having rows of closely spaced perforations dividing each stamp from the others.
3. marked by or having perforation:
   a perforated ulcer.

Also, perforate. 

• perforate + -ed² 1480–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perforated / ˈpɜːfəˌreɪtɪd/ adjective

1. pierced with one or more holes
2. (esp of stamps) having perforations

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•fo•rate /ˈpɜrfəˌreɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -rat•ed, -rat•ing. 

1. to make holes through by piercing or punching.
2. to pierce through or to the interior of; penetrate.

per•fo•ra•tion /ˌpɜrfəˈreɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] perforation of the lung.

[countable] the little perforations at the end of the computer paper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•fo•rate  (v. pûr′fə rāt′;adj. pûr′fər it, -fə rāt′), v., -rat•ed, -rat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to make a hole or holes through by boring, punching, piercing, or the like.
2. to pierce through or to the interior of;
   penetrate.

v.i. 

3. to make a way through or into something;
   penetrate.

adj. 

4. perforated.

• Latin perforātus, past participle of perforāre to bore¹ through; see per-
• 1530–40

per′for•a•ble, adj. 
per′fo•ra′tive, adj. 
per′fo•ra′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perforate verb / ˈpɜːfəˌreɪt/

1. to make a hole or holes in (something); penetrate
2. (transitive) to punch rows of holes between (stamps, coupons, etc) for ease of separation

adjective / ˈpɜːfərɪt/

1. pierced by small holes: perforate shells
2. another word for perforated2

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin perforāre, from per- through + forāre to pierce

perforable / ˈpɜːfərəb^əl/ adjective

ˈperforative, ˈperforatory adjective

ˈperfoˌrator noun