perforation
UK: ˌpɜː.fəˈreɪ.ʃən | US: ˌpɜːr.fəˈreɪ.ʃən
n. a hole or series of holes punched or drilled through a material
n. the act or process of making such holes
n. (medicine) an abnormal opening in a bodily organ or tissue
The word "perforation" traces back to Latin perforare (to bore through), combining per- (through) and forare (to bore or pierce). The suffix -ation was added in Middle English to form a noun indicating the action or result of piercing. Historically, the concept evolved from physical piercing (e.g., paper, leather) to metaphorical uses (e.g., medical tissue). The morpheme for- retains its core meaning of "piercing" across derivatives like "foramen" (a natural hole in bone).
The perforation in the paper made it easy to tear along the dotted line.
Stamp collectors examine perforations to determine a stamp’s authenticity.
The surgeon repaired the intestinal perforation to prevent infection.
The machine creates precise perforations for ventilation in packaging.
Ancient writing tablets often had perforations for binding with cords.