piercing Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb cut or make a way through
   pierce.
   
   • the knife cut through the flesh
   • The path pierced the jungle
   • Light pierced through the forest
2. verb move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply
   pierce.
   
   • The cold pierced her bones
   • Her words pierced the students
3. verb sound sharply or shrilly
   pierce.
   
   • The scream pierced the night
4. verb penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
   thrust; pierce.
   
5. verb make a hole into
   pierce.
   
   • The needle pierced her flesh
6. adjective satellite having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
   acute; penetrating; incisive; penetrative; discriminating; keen; sharp; knifelike.
   
   • an acute observer of politics and politicians
   • incisive comments
   • icy knifelike reasoning
   • as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
   • penetrating insight
   • frequent penetrative observations
7. adjective satellite painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
   lancinate; keen; cutting; stabbing; lancinating; knifelike.
   
   • a cutting wind
   • keen winds
   • knifelike cold
   • piercing knifelike pains
   • piercing cold
   • piercing criticism
   • a stabbing pain
   • lancinating pain

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