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per·fo·rate

(pûrfə-rāt′)

v. per·fo·rat·ed, per·fo·rat·ing, per·fo·rates

v.tr.

1. To pierce, punch, or bore a hole or holes in; penetrate.

2. To pierce or stamp with rows of holes, as those between postage stamps, to allow easy separation.

v.intr.

To pass into or through something.

adj. (pûrfər-ĭt, -fə-rāt′)

Having been perforated.

[Latin perforāre, perforāt- : per-, per- + forāre, to bore.]

perfo·ra·ble (-fər-ə-bəl) adj.

perfo·ra′tive adj.

perfo·ra′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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