Adjacent Words

Piercing definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PIERCING, ppr. pers'ing. Penetrating; entering, as a pointed instrument; making a way by force into another body.
1. Affecting deeply; as eloquence piercing the heart.
2. a. Affecting; cutting; keen.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" [syn: acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp]
2: painful as if caused by a sharp instrument; "a cutting wind"; "keen winds"; "knifelike cold"; "piercing knifelike pains"; "piercing cold"; "piercing criticism"; "a stabbing pain"; "lancinating pain" [syn: cutting, keen, knifelike, piercing, stabbing, lancinate, lancinating]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Date: 14th century penetrating: as a. loud, shrill <piercing cries> b. perceptive <piercing eyes> c. penetratingly cold ; biting <a piercing wind> d. cutting, incisive <piercing sarcasm> • piercingly adverb II. noun Date: 1977 a piece of jewelry (as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pierce Pierce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing.] [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.] 1. To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. ``I pierce . . . her tender side.'' --Dryden. 2. To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship. 3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. ``Pierced with grief.'' --Pope. Can no prayers pierce thee? --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Piercing Pier"cing, a. Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; -- used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. ``Piercing eloquence.'' --Shak. -- Pier"cing*ly, adv. -- Pier"cing*ness, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. A piercing sound or voice is high-pitched and very sharp and clear in an unpleasant way. A piercing scream split the air. ...a piercing whistle. ADJ: usu ADJ n • piercingly She screamed again, piercingly. ADV 2. If someone has piercing eyes or a piercing stare, they seem to look at you very intensely. (WRITTEN) ...his sandy blond hair and piercing blue eyes... = penetrating ADJ: usu ADJ n • piercingly Ben looked at him piercingly. ADV 3. A piercing wind makes you feel very cold. ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Penetrating, perforating. 2. Sharp, keen, acute, thrilling.

Moby Thesaurus

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