puncture

1 of 2verb

/ˈpʌŋktʃər/

Forms:punctures,puncturing,punctured,punctured

to cause a sudden loss of air or pressure in something, such as a tire or inflatable object

transitive

A nail on the road punctured the tire, causing a flat.
The cyclist accidentally punctured the inner tube while repairing the bike.
She accidentally punctured the inflatable pool toy with a sharp stick, causing it to lose air.
The road debris punctured the tire, leading to a slow deflation as air leaked out.
The sharp rock punctured the inflatable kayak, causing it to deflate.

to pierce or penetrate something with a sharp object

transitive

He punctured the lid of the can with a screwdriver to access its contents.
She punctured the plastic wrapping of the package with scissors to open it.
She punctured the fruit's skin with a fork to check its ripeness.
The surgeon punctured the patient's skin with a scalpel to begin the operation.
He punctured the membrane of the egg with a needle before boiling it to prevent cracking.

to suffer a small hole or opening

The cyclist's tire punctured when it ran over a sharp piece of glass on the road.
The balloon popped when it punctured on a thorn in the garden.
His shoe deflated quickly after it punctured on a rusty nail.
The air mattress developed a leak, causing it to puncture slowly over time.
The car's tire punctured after hitting a sharp rock on the dirt road.

to unexpectedly deflate or diminish a mood, feeling, or atmosphere

transitive

The arrival of bad news punctured the joyful atmosphere of the party.
Her harsh criticism punctured his confidence, leaving him feeling dejected.
The sudden downpour punctured our excitement for the outdoor concert.
His insensitive remark punctured the friendly banter, leading to an awkward silence.
The disappointing result punctured the team's optimism for the upcoming match.

Synonyms:

to create a hole or opening by piercing something with a sharp object

transitive

Using a nail, he punctured a series of holes in the plastic container for ventilation.
With a nail, he punctured a row of perforations in the plastic container for ventilation.
He used a drill to puncture a hole in the metal sheet for ventilation.
The electrician punctured an opening in the insulation of the wire to make a connection.