# piercing

/ˈpɪɹsɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈiəsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/piercing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. loud and sharp sound

adjective · CEFR B2

a sound that is very high, loud, and uncomfortable to hear.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. intense look

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

a look from someone's eyes that makes you feel like they can see your secrets.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. extremely cold

adjective · CEFR B2

wind or weather that is so cold it feels like it is going through your clothes.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. body jewelry

noun · CEFR B1

a hole made in your body, like your ear or nose, for wearing jewelry.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- A piercing scream came from the dark hallway.
- The cold wind was piercing, making it difficult for the hikers to stay warm despite their heavy coats.
- She fixed him with a piercing gaze that seemed to strip away his carefully constructed excuses, leaving him with no choice but to tell the truth.

---

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.