puncturable

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

punc•ture /ˈpʌŋktʃɚ/   n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. the act of piercing or making a hole in something, as with a pointed instrument or object.
2. a hole or mark so made:
   punctures from the needle.

v. 

3. to (cause to) be pierced;
   to (cause to) have a hole made in, as with a pointed instrument: [~ + object]
   The tire was punctured by a nail.
   [no object]
   The tires punctured with a bang.
4. to make (a hole) by piercing:
   [~ + object] punctured holes in the top of the jar.
5. to reduce or make less as if by piercing:
   [~ + object] The failure punctured her pride.
6. to cause to collapse or disintegrate:
   [~ + object] to puncture a dream of success.

See -punct-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

punc•ture  (pungk′chər), n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. the act of piercing or perforating, as with a pointed instrument or object.
2. a hole or mark so made.
3. Zoology a small pointlike depression.

v.t. 

4. to pierce or perforate, as with a pointed instrument:
   to puncture leather with an awl.
5. to make (a hole, perforation, etc.) by piercing or perforating:
   He punctured a row of holes in the cardboard.
6. to make a puncture in:
   A piece of glass punctured the tire.
7. to reduce or diminish as if by piercing;
   damage;
   wound:
   to puncture a person's pride.
8. to cause to collapse or disintegrate;
   spoil;
   ruin:
   to puncture one's dream of success.

v.i. 

9. to become punctured:
   These tires do not puncture easily.

• Latin pūnctūra a pricking, equivalent. to pūnct(us) (past participle of pungere to pierce; see pungent), + -ūra -ure
• Middle English 1350–1400

punc′tur•a•ble, adj. 
punc′ture•less, adj. 
punc′tur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. break, rupture, perforation.