/pɪəs; pɪrs/
v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr]
(a) (of sharp-pointed instruments) go into or through (sth) （指尖物）刺入, 刺透（某物）
*The arrow pierced his shoulder. 那枝箭刺入他的肩膀.
* (fig 比喻) Her suffering pierced their hearts, ie moved them deeply. 她遭受的苦难使他们心如刀绞.
(b) make a hole in or through (sth), esp with a sharp-pointed instrument 在（某物）上扎眼、穿孔
*pierce holes in leather before sewing it 先在皮子上扎眼然後再缝
* pierce the skin of cooking sausages with a fork 用叉子在要烹调的香肠上扎孔
* She had her ears pierced so that she could wear ear-rings. 她已扎了耳朵眼好戴耳环.
2 [Tn] (of light, sound, etc) penetrate (sth) （指光、声等）透入, 进入（某处）
*Her shrieks pierced the air. 她尖锐的叫声直刺云天.
* The beam of the searchlight pierced the darkness. 探照灯的光柱射入黑暗中.
3 [Ipr] ~ through sth force a way into sth; penetrate sth 穿入、穿过或进入某处
*Earth-moving equipment pierced through the jungle. 推土机穿过丛林.

v
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: percer, probably from Latin pertundere 'to make a hole through']
[T]
to make a small hole in or through something, using an object with a sharp point
　Steam the corn until it can easily be pierced with a fork.
　Rose underwent emergency surgery after a bullet pierced her lung.
pierce a hole in/through sth
　Pierce small holes in the base of the pot with a hot needle.
have your ears/nose etc pierced
to have a small hole made in your ears, nose etc so that you can wear jewellery through the hole
　I had my belly-button pierced.
　pierced ears
[I,T always + adverb/preposition]literary
if sound or light pierces something, you suddenly hear or see it
　The darkness was pierced by the beam from the lighthouse.
　A sudden scream pierced the silence.
pierce through
　The men's lanterns pierced through the dense mist.
pierce sb's heart
to make someone feel a strong emotion such as pain, sadness, or love
　Her memories sometimes pierced her heart.
[T]
to force a way through something
　Leicester rarely threatened to pierce the Manchester United defence.