Definition of "pierce"

pierce¹

/pɪɹs/

verb
third-person singular simple present pierces, present participle piercing, simple past and past participle pierced
1. (transitive) To puncture; to break through.
  Quotations
  I pierce her open back, or tender side
  1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
2. (transitive) To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry.
3. (transitive) to break or interrupt abruptly
4. (transitive, figurative) To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).
5. (transitive, figurative) To penetrate; to affect deeply.
  Quotations
  pierced with grief
  1715–1720, Homer, [Alexander] Pope, transl., “Book XI”, in The Iliad of Homer, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […]
  Can no prayers pierce thee?
  c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i]
  The flatness of the landscape facilitates views right across the Firth of Forth to Fife, before the railway begins to pierce the Edinburgh suburbs.
  2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75

pierce²

/pɪɹs/

noun
plural pierces
1. (Japan) A pierced earring.