adjective
- loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice.
- extremely cold or bitter: a piercing wind.
- appearing to gaze deeply or penetratingly into something: piercing eyes.
- perceptive or aware; acute: a piercing mind.
- sarcastic or caustic; cutting: piercing remarks.
adjective
- (of a sound) sharp and shrill
- (of eyes or a look) intense and penetrating
- (of an emotion) strong and deeply affecting
- (of cold or wind) intense or biting
noun
- the art or practice of piercing body parts for the insertion of jewellery
- an instance of the piercing of a body part
adj.in reference to cold, sound, etc., early 15c., present participle adjective from pierce (v.). Figuratively, of pain, grief, etc., from late 14c. Related: Piercingly. n.late 14c., verbal noun from pierce (v.).