Perforatemake a series of small holes through a material is usedemployed or applied for a particular purpose for something that has holes made in it, or for the act of making holes through something. It can also mean to pass through or penetratego into or pass through a material or surface something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpɝfəˌreɪtɪd/
Easy pronunciation: PER-fuh-RAY-tid (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the third syllable.
Adjective sense: having one or more holes made through it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Perforate Meaning
having one or more holes made through it
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having a hole cut through
Example: a perforated eardrum
Synonyms for this meaning:
- perforated — The direct adjective form and closest substitute for this sense.
- pierced — Can work when something has been made with a hole through it, though it is broader and less specific.
- punctured — Works when the hole was made by something sharp, but it is more specific than perforated.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Perforate
Meaning 2
move through something or break through it
Part of speech: verb
Definition: pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
Example: The bullet pierced the shield and perforated the metal behind it.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- penetrate — A genuine verb synonym for this sense.
Meaning 3
make small holes in something so it can be torn apart easily
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation
Example: Perforate the sheets of paper along the line.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- punch — Works as a verb in this sense when it means to make holes in a material.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Perforate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- perforated
- pierced
- punctured
pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
- penetrate
make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation
- punch
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not mix up the adjective perforated with the verb perforate.
- Pierced and punctured can overlap with perforated, but they are not perfect replacements in every context.
- Perforate in the paper-cutting sense usually means to make a row of holes for easy tearing, not just any hole-making.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does perforate mean?
Perforate can mean to make holes in something, to cause something to have holes, or, in another sense, to pass through or penetrate something.
Is perforate a verb or an adjective?
Both. Perforated is the adjective form, while perforate is commonly used as a verb.
What are common synonyms for perforate?
For the adjective sense, common synonyms include perforated, pierced, and punctured. For the verb senses, penetrat e and punch can fit, depending on the meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.