English Reference

Word

pierced

US/ˈpɪɹst/

UK/pˈiəst/

Definitions

01body jewellery

B1

adj. having a hole made in a part of your body so that you can wear jewellery.

adj. describing a body part, typically the ears, nose, or navel, that has been punctured to accommodate jewellery.

“She showed off her newly pierced ears at the party.”

“The studio specialises in pierced ears for children, ensuring a sterile environment and gentle technique to minimise discomfort.”

Usage

Usually placed before the noun it describes.

02perforated or patterned

B2

adj. having a hole or a pattern of holes cut through a surface.

adj. perforated or punctured; often used to describe decorative metalwork or woodwork with cut-out patterns.

“The light shone through the pierced metal lampshade, creating patterns on the wall.”

“The artisan spent weeks crafting the pierced silver screen, ensuring each geometric opening was perfectly symmetrical.”

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“Sunday’s attack pierced the belief that security in the Caribbean country was improving.”
The Guardian · 25 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference