perforates
|per/fo/rates|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɝfəreɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɜːfəreɪt/
(perforate)
make holes
Etymology
'perforate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'perforare', where 'per-' meant 'through' and 'forare' meant 'to bore or pierce'.
'perforare' passed into Late Latin and was adopted into Middle English and Early Modern English as 'perforaten'/'perforate', eventually becoming the modern English 'perforate'.
Initially, it meant 'to bore or pierce through', and over time it has retained that basic meaning, extending to patterns of small holes (e.g., perforated paper) and medical senses (e.g., an organ that is pierced).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
third person singular present of 'perforate': (transitive) to make one or more holes through something, especially by piercing or boring.
She perforates the paper to make it easier to tear off the coupon.
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Verb 2
third person singular present of 'perforate': (transitive) to make a row or pattern of small holes in something so that parts can be separated easily (e.g., stamps, tickets).
The machine perforates the stamps so customers can tear them off quickly.
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Verb 3
third person singular present of 'perforate': (intransitive) to become pierced or to develop a hole or opening (often used for tissues or organs: e.g., an ulcer perforates).
If left untreated, the ulcer sometimes perforates and leads to serious infection.
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Last updated: 2025/11/04 03:41