verb
impale
ihm-PAYL
verb
1
To pierce something through with a long, pointed object.
"The fence post impaled the tire as the car skidded off the road."
2
Historically, to kill someone by driving a stake through their body.
"The tyrant was infamous for ordering his enemies impaled."
How to Use Impale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pierce something all the way through with something sharp and pointed.
Common pairings
impaled on a spike
impale someone
Word Forms
impaled past tense, impales singular
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The fence post _____ the tire as the car skidded off the road.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin impalare, from Latin palus, "stake" — the same root as pale (a fence post).