Word
piercing
Phoneticspierc·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɪɹsɪŋ/
UK/pˈiəsɪŋ/
Definitions
01loud and sharp sound
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. a sound that is very high, loud, and uncomfortable to hear.
adj. describing a sound that is shrill, high-pitched, and seemingly capable of penetrating the ears.
“A piercing scream came from the dark hallway, making everyone stop and look.”
“The piercing whistle of the steam engine echoed through the valley, signaling the train's arrival long before it appeared on the horizon.”
02intense look
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. a look from someone's eyes that makes you feel like they can see your secrets.
adj. describing a gaze or look that is intense and seems to discover one's inner thoughts.
“The detective looked at me with piercing blue eyes while I told my story.”
“She fixed him with a piercing gaze that seemed to strip away his carefully prepared excuses, forcing him to look away in discomfort.”
Synonyms
03extremely cold
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. wind or weather that is so cold it feels like it is going through your clothes.
adj. describing weather or temperature that is bitingly cold and penetrates protective layers.
“A piercing wind blew across the lake, making us wish we had brought heavier coats.”
“Despite his thick woollen sweater, the piercing winter gale reached his skin, numbing his fingers within minutes of stepping outside.”
04body jewelry
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a hole made in your body, like your ear or nose, for wearing jewelry.
n. a hole made in the skin or cartilage for the purpose of inserting jewelry; also refers to the jewelry itself.
“She decided to get a nose piercing to celebrate her eighteenth birthday.”
“The studio specializes in sterile body piercings and stocks a wide variety of surgical-grade titanium hoops and studs.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“I still have my piercings and I still consider myself a punk.” “People who have a fresh cut, including a new piercing or tattoo, are advised to stay out of water that could be home to Vibrio vulnificus .” Etymology
From pierce + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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