piercing

verbnounadjectiveattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈpɪəsɪŋ//
United States//ˈpɪɹsɪŋ//

A hole made in the body so that jewellery can be worn through it.

verb

1
Also a form of piercepresent participle and gerund of pierce

Etymology

From pierce + -ing.

noun

1
A hole made in the body so that jewellery can be worn through it.
ear piercing
2
An item of jewellery designed to be fitted through a piercing (noun sense 2).
3
Also a form of piercegerund of pierce

adjective

1
Appearing to look deeply into; penetrating.
piercing eyes
2
Of temperature, extremely cold so that it penetrates through clothing and shelter.
3
Of sound, loud and sharp; shrill.
The piercing noise of the children could be heard two blocks from the elementary school.
In the meantime the saw was stopped and two of the men began filing and sharpening the blades, which produced such a piercing sound that it went through bone and marrow.

Forms

plural: piercings
comparative: more piercing
superlative: most piercing

pierce · To puncture; to break through.Pierce · A male given name from Ancient Greek, medieval variant of…pierced · Cut through; perforated.

piercing · A hole made in the body so that jewellery can be worn through it.

Pierre · A male given name from French, of occasional usage,…pierrot · Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genera Tarucus and…Pierrot · A character from French pantomime; a buffoon in a loose white…

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