perforation

/ˈpʌrfəˌreɪʃən/

Other forms: perforations

A perforation is a cut or hole in a piece of paper that makes it easy to tear, like the neat row of perforations that allows you to rip a sheet out of your notebook cleanly.

There are perforations between each stamp on a sheet of postage stamps, and some large envelopes have perforations that allow you to open the package easily. These perforations are made by a machine that pokes the tiny holes using either metal needles or lasers. You can use this word for other kinds of holes as well, whether in metal or skin. It stems from the Latin perforare, "bore or pierce through."

Definitions of perforation

1. noun

   a hole made in something
   “a perforation of the eardrum”

   type of:

   hole

   an opening into or through something
2. noun

   a line of small holes for tearing at a particular place
   type of:

   hole

   an opening deliberately made in or through something
3. noun

   the act of punching a hole (especially a row of holes as for ease of separation)
   type of:

   puncture

   the act of puncturing or perforating