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perforate

perforate [ púrfə rayt ]


verb  (3rd person present singular perforates, present participle perforating, past and past participle perforated)
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb puncture something: to make a hole or holes in something

2. transitive verb make holes for tearing: to make a line of small holes in paper to make tearing it easier

3. intransitive verb penetrate something: to penetrate or pass through something



adjective 
Definition:
 
1. biology with small holes: dotted with small holes

2. biology with transparent spots: dotted with transparent spots

3. stamps 
Same as  perforated (sense 1)


[Mid-16th century. < Latin perforat-, past participle of perforare 'bore through' < forare 'to bore']

perforable adjective
perforative [ púrfərətiv ] adjective
perforator noun
perforatory [ púrfərətəri ] adjective
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