The act of puncturing; perforating with something pointed. [1913 Webster]
A small hole made by a point; a slight wound, bite, or sting; as, the puncture of a nail, needle, or pin. [1913 Webster]
"A lion may perish by the puncture of an asp." [1913 Webster]

puncture, v. t.

To pierce with a small, pointed instrument, or the like; to prick; to make a puncture in; as, to puncture the skin. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

puncture, n. & v.
--n.
1 a prick or pricking, esp. the accidental piercing of a pneumatic tyre.
2 a hole made in this way.
--v.
1 tr. make a puncture in.
2 intr. undergo puncture.
3 tr. prick or pierce.

Etymology

ME f. L punctura f. pungere punct- prick

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THESAURUS

puncture

abrade, abrasion, acupunctuation, acupuncture, auger, bark, belie, birthmark, bite, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, bloody, blotch, blow sky-high, blow up, bore, boring, brand, break, bring up short, broach, burn, caste mark, cave, cave in, chafe, chalk, chalk up, check, check off, checkmark, chip, cicatrix, cicatrize, claw, collapse, concussion, countersink, crack, crackle, craze, cut, dapple, dash, define, deflate, delimit, demarcate, destroy, discolor, discoloration, disconfirm, discourage, discredit, disillusion, disprove, dot, drill, drill hole, earmark, empierce, empiercement, engrave, engraving, explode, expose, fall in, fix, fixing, flash burn, fleck, flick, fold, fold up, fracture, fray, frazzle, freckle, fret, gall, gash, go through, gore, goring, gouge, gouge out, graving, hack, hatch, hole, honeycomb, humble, hurt, impale, impalement, implode, impress, imprint, incise, incision, injure, injury, invalidate, jab, jot, lacerate, laceration, lance, lancing, leak, lentigo, lesion, line, macula, maim, make a mark, make mincemeat of, mark, mark off, mark out, marking, maul, mole, mortal wound, mottle, mutilate, mutilation, needle, negate, negative, nevus, nick, notch, opening, patch, pencil, penetrate, penetration, pepper, perforate, perforation, pierce, piercing, pink, point, polka dot, prick, pricking, print, prove the contrary, punch, punching, punctuate, puncturing, ream, ream out, rend, rent, riddle, rip, ruin, run, run through, rupture, savage, scald, scar, scarification, scarify, scorch, score, scotch, scrape, scratch, scratching, scuff, seal, seam, second-degree burn, shoot, show up, skewer, skewering, skin, slash, slit, sore, spear, speck, speckle, spike, spit, splash, splotch, spot, sprain, stab, stab wound, stabbing, stain, stamp, stick, stigma, stigmatize, strain, strawberry mark, streak, striate, stripe, tap, tattoo, tattoo mark, tear, terebration, third-degree burn, tick, tick off, tittle, trace, transfix, transfixation, transfixion, transforation, transpierce, trauma, traumatize, trepan, trepanning, trephine, trephining, undercut, underline, underscore, watermark, wound, wounds immedicable, wrench

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ROGET THESAURUS

puncture

Opening

N opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!, opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!.

VB open, ope, gape, yawn, bilge, fly open, perforate, pierce, empierce, tap, bore, drill, mine, tunnel, transpierce, transfix, enfilade, impale, spike, spear, gore, spit, stab, pink, puncture, lance, stick, prick, riddle, punch, stave in, cut a passage through, make way for, make room for, uncover, unclose, unrip, lay open, cut open, rip open, throw open, pop open, blow open, pry open, tear open, pull open.

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