punc·ture
ˈpəŋk-chər 
1
: an act of puncturing
2
: a hole, wound, or perforation made by puncturing
3
: a minute depression
punctured; puncturing
ˈpəŋk-chə-riŋ
ˈpəŋk-shriŋ
1
: to pierce with or as if with a pointed instrument or object
2
: to make useless or ineffective as if by a puncture : deflate
: to become punctured
Examples of puncture in a Sentence
Noun
a slight puncture of the skin
a leak caused by several small punctures in the rubber gasket
Verb
a nail punctured the tire
I could never puncture my own skin with a hypodermic needle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Sticks can cause a range of injuries, from splinters in the gums to serious puncture wounds to the mouth, throat, or even chest.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Mehmet Guzel, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Williams driver Carlos Sainz failed to finish after puncturing his tire.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for puncture
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Noun
The eagle struck her scalp with its powerful talons, causing several puncture wounds that required medical attention.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Sticks can cause a range of injuries, from splinters in the gums to serious puncture wounds to the mouth, throat, or even chest.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
Putin’s absence punctured hopes of a breakthrough in peace efforts that were given a push in recent months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders amid the intense maneuvering.
—Mehmet Guzel, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Williams driver Carlos Sainz failed to finish after puncturing his tire.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for puncture
Cite this Entry
“Puncture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puncture. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
puncture
1 of 2 noun
punc·ture
ˈpəŋ(k)-chər
1
: the act of puncturing
2
: a hole or wound made by puncturing
a slight puncture of the skin
a tire puncture
puncture
2 of 2 verb
punctured; puncturing
ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-riŋ
ˈpəŋ(k)-shriŋ
1
: to make a hole with a point
a nail punctured the tire
2
: to suffer a puncture of
punctured the tire on a nail
3
: to become punctured
worn tires puncture easily
4
: to make useless or ridiculous as if by a puncture
puncture an argument
Medical Definition
puncture
1 of 2 noun
punc·ture
ˈpəŋ(k)-chər
1
: an act of puncturing
2
: a hole, wound, or perforation made by puncturing
puncture
2 of 2 verb
punctured; puncturing
ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-riŋ, ˈpəŋ(k)-shriŋ
: to pierce with or as if with a pointed instrument or object
puncture the skin with a needle
: to become punctured
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