The word "imperforated" consists of four syllables: im-per-fo-ra-ted. The stress falls on the second syllable, as shown by the IPA transcription /ɪmˈpɜːfəreɪtɪd/. The prefix "im-" means "not," while "perforated" means "pierced with a hole or opening." Together, the word means "not pierced with a hole or opening." This word is commonly used in medical contexts to describe conditions where there is an absence of a bodily opening or hole.
Imperforated, as an adjective, refers to an object or material that lacks any perforations, holes, or punctures. It describes something that is completely solid or intact, without any openings or penetrations. The term is often used to describe various types of surfaces or structures that are uniformly unbroken, without any gaps or apertures.
In the context of office supplies, imperforated paper refers to sheets that lack the typical lines of small holes along their margins, which are commonly found in perforated paper. These non-perforated sheets remain fully intact and are designed to be used as such, rather than tear along predetermined lines. Imperforated paper is often used for printing official documents that need to maintain a formal appearance or for applications where the entire sheet needs to be preserved as a whole.
The term imperforated can also be used in the field of philately to describe stamps without any holes or tears. Imperforated stamps are printed without the usual perforation lines that help separate individual stamps from a sheet. These imperforated stamps need to be cut manually or with special tools in order to separate them. Imperforated stamps are often considered more valuable among collectors due to their scarcity and uniqueness.
Overall, imperforated refers to objects or materials that lack any openings, punctures, or perforations, emphasizing their complete, unbroken nature.
Not perforated or pierced; having no opening or passage of communication.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word imperforated is derived from the Latin word imperforatus. It is a compound word, comprising of the prefix im- meaning not or without, and the root word perforatus meaning to pierce or to bore through.