1. Having or showing quick and precise discernment or understanding; mentally perceptive and astute
   "His piercing intellect quickly grasped the complex theory";
   - acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, sharp
    
2. (of sound) very high, sharp, and penetrating
   "A piercing scream broke the silence"
    
3. (of wind, cold, etc.) intensely sharp or biting
   "The piercing wind cut through our coats"
    
4. Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
   "piercing knifelike pains";
   - cutting, keen, knifelike, stabbing, lancinate, lancinating

1. A small hole made in the body so that jewellery can be worn through it
   "She got a new piercing in her ear"

1. Make a hole into
   "The needle pierced her flesh"
    
2. Penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
   "The knife pierced her skin";
   - thrust
    
3. Move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply
   "The cold pierced her bones"; "Her words pierced the students"
    
4. Sound sharply or shrilly
   "The scream pierced the night"
    
5. Pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
   "The path pierced the jungle"; "Light pierced through the forest";
   - penetrate

Derived forms: piercings

See also: perceptive, sharp

Type of: advance, affect, come in, enter, get in, get into, go in, go into, go on, impress, march on, move, move into, move on, pass on, progress, sound, strike

Encyclopedia: Piercing