diːˈfleɪt ˈpʌŋktʃə ˈpʌŋktʃɚ ˈpʌŋktʃə ˈpʌŋktʃɚ be pierced or punctured The tire punctured cause to lose air pressure or collapse by piercing puncture an air balloon reduce or lessen the size or importance of The bad review of his work deflated his self-confidence the act of puncturing or perforating pierce with a pointed object; make a hole into puncture a tire make by piercing puncture a hole a small hole made by a sharp object loss of air pressure in a tire when a hole is made by some sharp object