To pierce means to make a hole in something by pushing a sharp object through it. When you pierce a piece of paper with a thumbtack, you push the pin all the way through to the other side. A seamstress might pierce fabric with a needle to start sewing. Someone getting their ears pierced has a small hole made in each earlobe so they can wear earrings.

The word can describe any sharp object breaking through a surface: an arrow piercing a target, a nail piercing a board, or a thorn piercing your finger. Piercing can happen accidentally (stepping on something sharp) or intentionally (a doctor piercing your skin with a vaccine needle).

The word also describes sounds or sensations that feel sharp and penetrating. A piercing scream cuts through other noise and grabs everyone's attention. A piercing wind seems to go straight through your jacket on a cold day. Piercing eyes might seem to look right through you, as if the person can see what you're really thinking.

Something that pierces doesn't just touch the surface. It goes through, creating an opening or making its presence impossible to ignore.