English Explanatory Dictionary

perforate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To pierce; to penetrate.
  2. To make a line of holes in (a thin material) to allow separation at the line.
adj
  1. Perforated.
  2. Perforated, having a hole.

Pronunciation

/ˈpəːfəreɪt/ en-us-perforate.ogg

Word forms

perforate perforates perforating perforated

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1425, in Middle English, the verb in 1538; from Middle English perforat(e) (“perforated, pierced”), borrowed from Latin perforātus, the perfect passive participle of perforō (“to bore or pierce through, to perforate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from per- (“through, thorough”) + forō (“to bore, pierce”). Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Derived words

biperforate imperforate macroperforate microperforate multiperforate nonperforating perforately perforation perforator perforin reperforate subperforate unperforate
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