Puncture

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈpʌŋktʃə/
• US IPA: /ˈpʌŋktʃɚ/
• Hyphenation: punc + ture

Full definition of puncture

Noun

1. The act or an instance of puncturing.
• 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off trackA tough test for even the strongest climber, it was new to the Tour de France this year, but its debut will be remembered for the wrong reasons after one of those spectators scattered carpet tacks on the road and induced around 30 punctures among the group of riders including Bradley Wiggins, the Tour's overall leader, and his chief rivals.
2. A hole, cut, or tear created by a sharp object.
• 2001, Ken Follett, , Dutton, ISBN 0525946284, page 340,Dieter's car had suffered a puncture on the RN3 road between Paris and Meaux. A bent nail was stuck in the tire.
• RamblerA lion may perish by the puncture of an asp.

Synonyms

• (UK, hole in a tire) flat tyre; informal US flat

Derived terms

• puncturer

Verb

1. To pierce; to break through; to tear a hole.The needle punctured the balloon instantly.

Derived terms

• aquapuncture
• electropuncture
• laserpuncture
• punctured interval
• punctured neighborhood