puncture1 nounpuncture2 verb
puncturepunc‧ture1 /ˈpʌŋktʃə $ -ər/ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINpuncture1
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin punctura, from pungere; ➔ PUNGENTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I could hear the hissing sound of air escaping from the puncture.
- The tyre's gone flat again -- I think we've got a slow puncture.
- Biasion's puncture cost him two minutes and he ended the day two minutes and six seconds behind Fiorio.
- Blood was obtained by direct cardiac puncture for cholecystokinin assay.
- Deep puncture wounds or animal bites anywhere.
- He knew how to change the washer on a tap, and make pastry, and mend a bicycle puncture.
- I could see from the four small puncture marks on Fenella's wrist that she had tried to stroke him during lunch.
- Serial lumbar punctures and steroids are frequently used to reduce the intracranial pressure.
- The puncture let air rush in and out, spoiling nature's enclosed vacuum system.
THESAURUS
an empty space in the surface of something, which sometimes goes all the way through it: · A fox had dug a hole under our fence.· Rain was coming in through a hole in the roof.
an empty area between two things, into which you can put something: · Are there any empty spaces on the bookshelf?· a parking space
an empty area between two things or two parts of something, especially one that should not be there: · He has a gap between his two front teeth.· I squeezed through a gap in the hedge.
a hole that something can pass through or that you can see through, especially at the entrance of something: · The train disappeared into the dark opening of the tunnel.· I looked through the narrow opening in the wall.
a small hole where something has been damaged or broken that lets liquid or gas flow in or out: · a leak in the pipe· The plumber’s coming to repair the leak.
especially British English a small hole in a tyre through which air escapes: · My bike’s got a puncture.
a very narrow space between two things or two parts of something: · The snake slid into a crack in the rock.· She was peering through the crack in the curtains.
a straight narrow hole that you put a particular type of object into: · You have to put a coin in the slot before you dial the number.· A small disk fits into a slot in the camera.
a round hole in the ground made by an explosion or by a large object hitting it hard: · a volcanic crater· The meteor left a crater over five miles wide.· the craters on the Moon
to make a hole in something to cause a hole to appear in something: · Make a hole in the bottom of the can using a hammer and nail.
to make a small hole in or through something, using a pointed object: · The dog’s teeth had pierced her skin.· Shelley wanted to have her ears pierced (=for earrings).
to make a very small hole in the surface of something, using a pointed object: · Prick the potatoes before baking them.· My finger was bleeding where the needle had pricked it.
to make a hole through paper or flat material using a metal tool or other sharp object: · I bought one of those things for punching holes in paper.· You have to get your ticket punched before you get on the train.
to make a small hole in something, especially something where skin or a wall surrounds a softer or hollow inside part: · The bullet had punctured his lung.
formal to make a hole or holes in something: · Fragments of the bullet had perforated his intestines.
to make a hole using a special tool, often one which turns round and round very quickly: · The dentist started drilling a hole in my tooth.· They won a contract to drill for oil in the area.
to make a deep round hole through a rock, into the ground etc: · They had to bore through solid rock.· The men were boring a hole for the tunnel.
an empty space in the surface of something, which sometimes goes all the way through it: · A fox had dug a hole under our fence.· Rain was coming in through a hole in the roof.
an empty area between two things, into which you can put something: · Are there any empty spaces on the bookshelf?· a parking space
an empty area between two things or two parts of something, especially one that should not be there: · He has a gap between his two front teeth.· I squeezed through a gap in the hedge.
a hole that something can pass through or that you can see through, especially at the entrance of something: · The train disappeared into the dark opening of the tunnel.· I looked through the narrow opening in the wall.
a small hole where something has been damaged or broken that lets liquid or gas flow in or out: · a leak in the pipe· The plumber’s coming to repair the leak.
especially British English a small hole in a tyre through which air escapes: · My bike’s got a puncture.
a very narrow space between two things or two parts of something: · The snake slid into a crack in the rock.· She was peering through the crack in the curtains.
a straight narrow hole that you put a particular type of object into: · You have to put a coin in the slot before you dial the number.· A small disk fits into a slot in the camera.
a round hole in the ground made by an explosion or by a large object hitting it hard: · a volcanic crater· The meteor left a crater over five miles wide.· the craters on the Moon
to make a hole in something to cause a hole to appear in something: · Make a hole in the bottom of the can using a hammer and nail.
to make a small hole in or through something, using a pointed object: · The dog’s teeth had pierced her skin.· Shelley wanted to have her ears pierced (=for earrings).
to make a very small hole in the surface of something, using a pointed object: · Prick the potatoes before baking them.· My finger was bleeding where the needle had pricked it.
to make a hole through paper or flat material using a metal tool or other sharp object: · I bought one of those things for punching holes in paper.· You have to get your ticket punched before you get on the train.
to make a small hole in something, especially something where skin or a wall surrounds a softer or hollow inside part: · The bullet had punctured his lung.
formal to make a hole or holes in something: · Fragments of the bullet had perforated his intestines.
to make a hole using a special tool, often one which turns round and round very quickly: · The dentist started drilling a hole in my tooth.· They won a contract to drill for oil in the area.
to make a deep round hole through a rock, into the ground etc: · They had to bore through solid rock.· The men were boring a hole for the tunnel.
Longman Language Activatora hole in something that has been damaged, allowing water, air etc to escape: hole in · Water trickled in through the hole in the roof.· There are holes in the ozone layer above Antarctica.
a hole where something has been damaged or broken that allows a gas or liquid to pass through when it should not: · The water pressure's right down - there must be a leak in the pipe.spring a leak (=suddenly get a leak): · The boat had sprung a leak and it was sinking fast.
British a small hole in a tyre through which air escapes: · I could hear the hissing sound of air escaping from the puncture.slow puncture (=a puncture from which air escapes slowly): · The tyre's gone flat again -- I think we've got a slow puncture.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
She was cycling home when she had a puncture.
1British English a small hole made accidentally in a tyre SYN flat American English: She was cycling home when she had a puncture. (=one that lets air out very slowly)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· The tyre had punctured and had to be replaced.
She was cycling home when she had a puncture.slow puncture (=one that lets air out very slowly)► see thesaurus at hole2a small hole made by a sharp point, especially in someone’s body: puncture woundspuncture1 nounpuncture2 verb
puncturepuncture2 verb 1[intransitive, transitive] if a tyre punctures, or if you puncture it, a small hole appears in it: A piece of glass punctured the back tyre.2[transitive] to make a small hole in something: One bullet punctured his lung. Pressurized container – do not puncture.3[transitive] to interrupt a period of silence by making a noise: There was a stunned silence, punctured by shrill laughter.4[transitive] to suddenly destroy someone’s hopes or beliefs, making them feel unhappy, embarrassed, or confused: He wasn’t hurt, but his dignity was punctured.