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Pierce

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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

pierce¹

  • /pɪɹs/ US
  • /pɪəs/ Australia, UK
  • /piɹs/ Scotland
  • /piəs/ New Zealand
  • /pɛːs/
  • /pɜː(ɹ)s/ obsolete

Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

From Middle English perce, from conjugated forms of Old French percier such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertūsiō, from Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundō (“thrust or bore through”), from per- (“through”) + tundō (“beat, pound”). Displaced native Old English þȳrlian (literally “to hole”).

verb pierces · piercing · pierced

  1. transitive To puncture; to break through. The diver pierced the surface of the water with scarcely a splash.
  2. transitive To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry. Can you believe he pierced his tongue?
  3. transitive to break or interrupt abruptly A dreadful scream pierced the silence.
  4. figuratively, transitive To get to the heart or crux of (a matter). to pierce a mystery
  5. figuratively, transitive To penetrate; to affect deeply. A stab of fear pierced my heart.

noun pierces

  1. nonstandard A piercing. Actually, a navel pierce beautificates any feminine form, as I'm sure it does for you...

pierce²

  • /pɪɹs/ US
  • /pɪəs/ Australia, UK
  • /piɹs/ Scotland
  • /piəs/ New Zealand
  • /pɛːs/
  • /pɜː(ɹ)s/ obsolete

Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)s

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Japanese ピアス (piasu, “pierced earring”), itself from English pierce.

noun pierces

  1. Japan A pierced earring.

Pierce³

proper noun Bearss

  1. A male given name from Ancient Greek, medieval variant of Piers. Modern usage may also derive from the surname.
  2. A surname originating as a patronymic.
  3. A town in Weld County, Colorado.
  4. A minor city in Clearwater County, Idaho.
  5. An unincorporated community in Wilton Township, Will County, Illinois.
  6. An unincorporated community in Green County, Kentucky.
  7. A city, the county seat of Pierce County, Nebraska.
  8. An unincorporated community in Wharton County, Texas.
  9. An unincorporated community and coal town in Tucker County, West Virginia.
  10. A town in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
  11. A number of townships, listed under Pierce Township.

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