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   puncture

   /ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃə/

   noun

   • 1. a small hole in a tyre resulting in an escape of air: "she was on her way home when she had a puncture" Similar flat tyreinformal:flat
   • ▪ a small hole in something such as the skin, caused by a sharp object: "a puncture wound" Similar holeperforationprickrupturecutnickslitleak

   verb

   • 1. make a puncture in (something): "one of the knife blows had punctured a lung" Similar make a hole inpiercepenetrateruptureperforateriddlestabcutnickslitprickspikestickimpaletransfixbore (through)drill (through)lancetapdecompressdepressurizedeflate
   • ▪ sustain a puncture: "the tyre had punctured and it would have to be replaced"
   • 2. cause a sudden collapse of (mood or feeling): "the earlier mood of optimism was punctured" Similar put an end tocut shortreverseprickdeflateflattenreduce

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin punctura, from punct- ‘pricked’, from the verb pungere. The verb dates from the late 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • P

     3

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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