Home Dictionary Ppiercing

piercing

When used as an adjective to describe sound, 'piercing' usually has a negative connotation because it implies the noise is uncomfortable or painful. When describing eyes or a gaze, it suggests that the person is very observant and can see the truth about someone, often making the other person feel exposed. As a noun, 'piercing' refers to both the act of making the hole and the permanent hole itself.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Maya is scrolling through Instagram while Fatima is in the library.

Maya

Chloe just posted a pic. That new piercing looks totally sketchy.

Fatima

Of course it is. She probably went to some random shop to save a buck.

💡

Maya uses 'sketchy' (slang for suspicious or low-quality) to describe the piercing, while Fatima uses the idiom 'save a buck' (to avoid spending money), reflecting their shared view of Chloe's impulsive and cheap decision-making.

Meanings

adjective

Extremely high-pitched, loud, or shrill in a way that is unpleasant or penetrates the ears.

"A piercing scream echoed through the silent hallway."

adjective

(Of a look or gaze) appearing to see through someone; penetrating and perceptive.

"She stared at him with piercing blue eyes that seemed to read his every thought."

adjective

(Of cold weather) intensely cold; biting or penetrating.

"The piercing wind chilled them to the bone as they climbed the mountain."

noun

A hole made in a part of the body, typically for the purpose of wearing jewelry.

"She decided to get a nose piercing for her eighteenth birthday."

verb (transitive)

To make a hole in something by pushing a sharp point through it.

"The needle is designed for piercing thick leather."

Last Updated: May 23, 2026•Report an Error