pierce

pierce — verb

1. to drive something sharp into a surface or right through it, so that a small hol

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to drive something sharp into a surface or right through it, so that a small hole is left.

例句

The thorn pierced Eva's glove and cut her finger.

pattern: pierce + body part

A silver needle pierced the cloth near the jacket pocket.

pattern: pierce + material

同義詞
  • puncture

    focuses on making a hole, often a small one

  • stab

    more violent and especially used for attacking a person or animal

  • penetrate

    more formal and often stresses going deeply or fully through

  • prick

    used for a small, quick touch with a sharp point

文法句型

pierce + noun

pierce through + noun

用法筆記

Often takes objects such as skin, cloth, metal, or a body part. With 'through', the focus is on passing from one side to the other; sense 3 is broader and stresses getting past resistance or a barrier.

常見錯誤

❌The thorn pierced to her skin.
✅The thorn pierced her skin.
💡'pierce' normally takes the thing entered as a direct object.
❌The nurse pierced the needle into his arm.
✅The nurse pierced his arm with the needle.
💡the object after 'pierce' is usually the surface or body part, not the tool.

2. if a light or sound pierces dark, fog, smoke, or noise, people notice it at once

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

if a light or sound pierces dark, fog, smoke, or noise, people notice it at once because it comes through clearly.

例句

A police siren pierced the silence before sunrise.

collocation: pierce the quiet

One white beam pierced the smoke above the stage.

light cutting through smoke

同義詞
反義詞
  • fade

    to become weaker and less easy to notice

  • be muffled

    used when a sound does not come through clearly

文法句型

pierce + darkness/fog/smoke

pierce + silence/noise

用法筆記

The subject is usually a beam, light, cry, bell, or siren. The object often names what blocks clear sight or sound, such as darkness, fog, smoke, noise, or silence.

常見錯誤

❌The radio pierced in the kitchen.
✅The radio music pierced the silence in the kitchen.
💡this sense usually needs an object showing what the sound comes through.
❌The lamp pierced the wall.
✅The lamp's beam pierced the fog outside.
💡this sense is about light or sound coming through clearly, not making a physical hole.

3. to get past something that blocks movement by breaking through it or opening a p

3.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to get past something that blocks movement by breaking through it or opening a path.

例句

The hiking team pierced the thick forest by noon.

pattern: pierce + area

By sunset, the soldiers had pierced enemy lines.

collocation: pierce enemy lines

同義詞
  • break through

    emphasizes overcoming resistance or a barrier

  • push through

    more informal and suggests steady effort

  • penetrate

    more formal, especially in military or technical writing

文法句型

pierce + barrier

pierce through + barrier

用法筆記

Often used with subjects that move or spread, such as people, boats, roads, or roots, and with objects that act as barriers, such as forest, ice, lines, or crowds. Distinguish from sense 1, where a sharp point simply enters or goes through a surface.

常見錯誤

❌The runners pierced to the crowd.
✅The runners pierced through the crowd.
💡with a moving barrier like a crowd, 'through' is the natural pattern.
❌The path pierced in the woods.
✅The path pierced the woods.
💡this sense usually takes the barrier or area as a direct object.