piercing

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɪəsɪŋ/

adjective

  • having or showing shrewdness or keen intelligence: her piercing analysis a tall blonde with piercing eyes
  • (of a sound) extremely high or loud: she let out a piercing scream
  • (of wind or extreme cold) seeming to cut through one: the piercing cold of winter
  • (of a feeling) intense, typically in a distressing way: I recall one moment of piercing sadness

noun

(usually piercings)
  • holes in parts of the body, typically other than the ears, made so as to wear rings, studs, or other jewellery in them: she had piercings in her nose, eyebrow, and tongue

Derivatives

piercingly

adverb