Perforate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when making a series of small holes in a material, often to allow it to be torn easily.

• The notebook has perforated edges to tear out pages cleanly
• The sheets are perforated for easy separation

Used when making a hole by going through something with a pointed object. Often has a sharp or sudden connotation.

• She pierced her ears when she was a teenager
• The needle pierced the fabric easily

Used when describing the act of getting inside something, often referring to going through barriers or into spaces. It can also have metaphorical meaning.

• The bullet was able to penetrate the armor
• New ideas can penetrate even the most traditional minds

Used when making a small hole, often unintentionally or accidentally, which may cause damage.

• He punctured the tire by driving over a nail
• The balloon punctured and deflated instantly

Used when making a deep, narrow hole, often with a tool or machine. Common in construction or engineering contexts.

• They had to bore a hole into the wall to install the pipe
• The machine can bore through rock quickly

This word is often used in a more formal or technical context where something is being pierced with multiple small holes, especially through materials like paper or metal. It can also imply a systematic process of creating multiple holes.

• The machine is designed to perforate the paper evenly.
• We need to perforate the metal sheet to create a ventilation panel.

This word can have multiple meanings, but in the context relevant to creating holes, it refers to using a tool to pierce a material. It represents a general term and can be used in a variety of contexts, including office work or crafts.

• He used a punch to make holes in the leather belt.
• We need to punch holes in this card to attach it to the gift.

This term is usually used in an office or school setting to describe the action of making holes in paper, typically for the purpose of filing documents in binders.

• I need to use the hole punch to prepare these documents for the meeting.
• The teacher hole-punched the worksheets so we could organize them in our binders.

This word is used in contexts where you press something down to leave an impression or mark, which might or might not involve making a hole. It is often used in administrative or crafting situations.

• She stamped the official seal on the document.
• The kids enjoyed stamping patterns onto their art projects.