ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pierced

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɪɹst// UK //pˈiəst// pierced

adj. having a small hole made in a part of the body so that you can wear jewelry there.

adj. having a hole made through the skin or a body part, typically for the insertion of jewelry. Participial adjective; often used predicatively after 'get' or 'have'.


SIMPLE

She has pierced ears and wears silver hoops.

CONTEXTUAL

After months of asking her parents, she finally got her ears pierced for her sixteenth birthday.

COMPLEX

The archaeological site yielded several skeletal remains with pierced septums, suggesting that decorative body modification was a significant cultural practice among the tribe's elite members.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows 'get' or 'have' as part of a causative construction ('have something pierced').

Pitfall

she has pierce earsshe has pierced earsWhen used to describe the state of the ears, the past participle form 'pierced' must be used as an adjective.

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