perforate

• POS: Adjective, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: per=fo=rate

CIDE DICTIONARY

perforate, v. t. [L. perforatus, p. p. of perforare to perforate; per through + forare to bore. See Bore, v.].

 To bore through; to pierce through with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through by boring or piercing; to pierce or penetrate the surface of.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]

perforate, a. 

 Pierced with a hole or holes, or with pores; having transparent dots resembling holes.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

perforate, v. & adj.
--v.
1 tr. make a hole or holes through; pierce.
2 tr. make a row of small holes in (paper etc.) so that a part may be torn off easily.
3 tr. make an opening into; pass into or extend through.
4 intr. (usu. foll. by into, through, etc.) penetrate.
--adj. perforated.

Derivative

perforation n. perforative adj. perforator n.

Etymology

L perforare (as PER-, forare pierce)

THESAURUS

perforate

auger, bite, bore, broach, countersink, drill, drive, empierce, enter, fix, gore, gouge, gouge out, hole, honeycomb, impale, lance, needle, pass into, penetrate, pierce, pink, pit, prick, probe, punch, puncture, ream, ream out, riddle, run through, skewer, spear, spike, spit, stab, stick, tap, transfix, transpierce, trepan, trephine

ROGET THESAURUS

perforate

Opening

VB open, ope, gape, yawn, bilge, fly open, perforate, pierce, empierce, tap, bore, drill, mine, tunnel, transpierce, transfix, enfilade, impale, spike, spear, gore, spit, stab, pink, puncture, lance, stick, prick, riddle, punch, stave in, cut a passage through, make way for, make room for, uncover, unclose, unrip, lay open, cut open, rip open, throw open, pop open, blow open, pry open, tear open, pull open.

N opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!.

Passage

VB pass, pass through, perforate, penetrate, permeate, thread, thrid, enfilade, go through, go across, go over, pass over, cut across, ford, cross, pass and repass, work, make one's way, thread one's way, worm one's way, force one's way, make a passage form a passage, cut one's way through, find its way, find its vent, transmit, make way, clear the course, traverse, go over the ground.