4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pierce  \Pierce\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Pierced};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Piercing}.]  [OE.  percen,  F.  percer,  OF  percier,  perchier, 
  parchier  perh.  fr  (assumed)  LL  pertusiare  for  pertusare, 
  fr  L.  pertundere  pertusum  to  beat  push  bore  through  per 
  through  +  tundere  to  beat:  cf  OF  pertuisier  to  pierce,  F. 
  pertuis  a  hole.  Cf  {Contuse},  {Parch},  {Pertuse}.] 
  1.  To  thrust  into  penetrate,  or  transfix,  with  a  pointed 
  instrument.  ``I  pierce  .  .  .  her  tender  side.''  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  To  penetrate;  to  enter  to  force  a  way  into  or  through  to 
  pass  into  or  through  as  to  pierce  the  enemy's  line  a 
  shot  pierced  the  ship. 
 
  3.  Fig.:  To  penetrate;  to  affect  deeply;  as  to  pierce  a 
  mystery.  ``Pierced  with  grief.''  --Pope. 
 
  Can  no  prayers  pierce  thee?  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pierce  \Pierce\,  v.  i. 
  To  enter  to  penetrate;  to  make  a  way  into  or  through 
  something  as  a  pointed  instrument  does  --  used  literally 
  and  figuratively. 
 
  And  pierced  to  the  skin,  but  bit  no  more  --Spenser. 
 
  She  would  not  pierce  further  into  his  meaning.  --Sir  P. 
  Sidney. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Pierce 
  n  :  14th  President  of  the  United  States  (1804-1869)  [syn:  {Pierce}, 
  {Franklin  Pierce}] 
  v  1:  cut  or  make  a  way  through  "the  knife  cut  through  the 
  flesh";  "The  path  pierced  the  jungle";  "Light  pierced 
  through  the  forest" 
  2:  move  or  affect  (a  person's  emotions,  bodily  feelings,  etc.) 
  deeply  or  sharply;  "The  cold  pierced  her  bones";  "Her 
  words  pierced  the  students" 
  3:  sound  sharply  or  shrilly;  "The  scream  pierced  the  night" 
  4:  penetrate  or  cut  through  with  a  sharp  instrument  [syn:  {thrust}] 
  5:  make  a  hole  into  "The  needle  pierced  her  flesh" 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Pierce,  CO  (town,  FIPS  59005) 
  Location:  40.63286  N,  104.75464  W 
  Population  (1990):  823  (287  housing  units) 
  Area:  1.6  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  80650 
  Pierce,  ID  (city,  FIPS  62740) 
  Location:  46.49266  N,  115.79849  W 
  Population  (1990):  746  (323  housing  units) 
  Area:  2.1  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  83546 
  Pierce,  NE  (city,  FIPS  39100) 
  Location:  42.19947  N,  97.52772  W 
  Population  (1990):  1615  (662  housing  units) 
  Area:  2.2  sq  km  (land),  0.1  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  68767 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words