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1. Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
   - acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, sharp
    
2. 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

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

Derived forms: piercings

See also: perceptive, sharp

Type of: affect, impress, move, penetrate, perforate, sound, strike

Encyclopedia: Piercing