centerpunch

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noun

A hand tool used to prepare a workpiece prior to drilling a hole. It typically compresses and then suddenly releases a spring, creating a small indentation that, in turn, guides and centers the drill.

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Meanings

nouncenterpunch (plural centerpunches)

plural centerpunches

  1. A hand tool used to prepare a workpiece prior to drilling a hole. It typically compresses and then suddenly releases a spring, creating a small indentation that, in turn, guides and centers the drill.
  2. The indentation left by such a tool.
verbcenterpunch (third-person singular simple present centerpunches, present participle centerpunching, simple past and past participle centerpunched)

present singular third person centerpunches · participle present centerpunching · participle past centerpunched · past centerpunched

  1. To prepare a workpiece for drilling by using a centerpunch to create an indentation.
  2. To place something directly in the middle.

Origin

From center + punch.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French pointeau
  • pointeautool
Cite this entry
APA

centerpunch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centerpunch

MLA

“centerpunch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centerpunch. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “centerpunch,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centerpunch.

Source: centerpunch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.