perforate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perforate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of making a hole or holes in something, often for the purpose of allowing something to pass through or for easier separation. Example: "The technician will perforate the sheet of paper to make it easier to tear along the lines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Most of the soft tissue is then external to an axial calcareous skeleton, but in rapidly growing corals the skeleton is perforate, and soft tissue lies both inside and outside it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The lateral pockets of the pharyngeal cavity, called the pharyngeal pouches, perforate the mesodermal layer, reach the ectoderm, and break through to form pharyngeal, or gill, clefts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The dead fragments of intestinal tissue may erode blood vessels, causing hemorrhage, or they may perforate the intestinal wall, allowing the intestine's contents to enter the peritoneal cavity (peritonitis).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The first reliably life-saving invention for mothers was called a crochet, or, in another variation, a cranioclast: a sharp-pointed instrument, often with clawlike hooks, which birth attendants used in desperate situations to perforate and crush a fetus's skull, extract the fetus, and save the mother's life.

The New Yorker

In the meantime, there was injustice and stupidity to perforate, cruelty to expose, the absurd and gorgeous carnival of the world to watch going by. "What is this sickly sentimentality?" he'd say to me, "this weakening at the knees?

The New Yorker

Would cosmic rays "perforate the body with such wounds as sterilized needles would leave," as an article in Popular Science put it at the time?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The trisynaptic circuit forwards information from the entorhinal cortex to the dentate gyrus via the perforant path, which perforates through the subiculum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(Lewis and Lewis 1983, 4) Well, some cheese is singly perforated, some cheese is doubly-perforated, yet other cheese is n-perforated where n equals the number of holes in the cheese.

SEP

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 9.12pm BST21:12 10 min: Another scare for Germany, whose high line is perforated when Slimani races on to another through ball, having given Jerome Boateng the slip.

The Guardian - Sport

LIKE a kettle near boiling point, the countryside outside Iceland's capital is perforated with vents and geysers letting off steam from the volcanic cauldron simmering just below the island's surface.

The Economist

But the miners perforated that protective layer with 15,000 injection wells, causing massive contamination.Today, Diamo must work night and day, pumping clean water into the ground through a line of wells to form a hydrological barrier that uses water pressure to keep the worst poisons penned in.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perforate" when you specifically want to emphasize the act of creating a series of holes, especially to weaken a material or allow for separation.

Common error

Avoid using "perforate" interchangeably with verbs like "pierce" or "penetrate" if you want to highlight the creation of multiple holes rather than a single entry point.

Linguistic Context

The verb "perforate" functions primarily to describe the action of making a hole or holes in something. It suggests a process of piercing through a material, often with the intention of creating a series of openings or weakening the structure. Ludwig examples showcase usage in contexts ranging from medical procedures to architectural design.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "perforate" is a verb that means to pierce and make a hole or holes in something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is "very common", especially in contexts related to News & Media. Related terms include "pierce", "puncture", and "penetrate", though each carries subtle differences in meaning. When writing, remember that "perforate" specifically refers to creating holes, often in a series, and avoid confusing it with verbs that simply imply penetration. When in doubt, Ludwig offers a multitude of real-world examples to guide your usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pierce

A more general term for making a hole in something, often with a sharp object.

puncture

Implies making a small hole, often accidentally or with a pointed object.

penetrate

Suggests entering or passing through something, not necessarily creating a hole.

bore through

Implies creating a hole with a rotating tool or by sustained effort.

drill

Specifically refers to making a hole with a drill.

make a hole in

A more literal and less formal way of expressing the same action.

create an opening in

Emphasizes the result of the action, the creation of an opening.

pass through

Focuses on the action of going through something, rather than creating a hole.

rupture

Suggests a sudden break or tear, often due to pressure or force.

cut through

Implies using a sharp edge to divide or separate something.

FAQs

How to use "perforate" in a sentence?

You can use "perforate" to describe the action of making a hole or holes through something. For example, "The technician will perforate the sheet of paper to make it easier to tear."

What can I say instead of "perforate"?

You can use alternatives like "pierce", "puncture", or "penetrate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "perforate" or "make a hole"?

"Perforate" is a more formal and specific term. "Make a hole" is a more general and informal alternative. Both are correct depending on the context.

What's the difference between "perforate" and "penetrate"?

"Perforate" implies making a hole or a series of holes through something, while "penetrate" means to enter or pass through something, not necessarily creating a hole.