perforate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to pierce something and make one or more holes through it

   A sharp fragment can perforate the thin membrane.

2. 2
   verb

   to make a line or pattern of small holes, especially so material can be torn or separated easily

   The machine will perforate the paper between each ticket.

From Latin perforatus, the past participle of perforare 'to bore through,' formed from per- 'through' + forare 'to bore, pierce.' English first used the related adjective and then the verb in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Topics