pierce

BrE /piəs/ AmE /pirs/

verb en → es

past pierced pp pierced ing piercing

1 PENETRATE [transitive] B1

to make a hole in something, especially with a sharp object

perforar, atravesar, clavar

  • pierce something with sth

Collocations pierce the skin · pierce an object

  • The needle pierced his finger.

    La aguja atravesó su dedo.

2 PERCEIVE [transitive] B2

to see or hear something clearly and sharply, especially when it is difficult to do so

percibir claramente, distinguir

  • pierce the darkness/night

Collocations pierce the fog · pierce the silence

  • The light pierced through the thick fog.

    La luz atravesó la densa niebla.

Phrasal verbs

pierce through PENETRATE C1

atravesar, perforar

  • The arrow pierced through the shield.

    La flecha atravesó la escudo.

pierce into PENETRATE C1

penetrar en, perforar

  • The bullet pierced into the wall.

    La bala penetró en la pared.