# pierced

/ˈpɪɹst/ (US) · /pˈiəst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pierced
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. body jewellery

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. perforated or patterned

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She has pierced ears and wears silver hoops.
- After months of asking her parents, she finally got her ears pierced for her sixteenth birthday.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.