punched

Punched is the past tense and past participle of the verb punch. In everyday language, punched commonly describes an action where a person or thing strikes with a closed fist, or where a rapid, forceful hit is delivered. It can describe injuries, such as a punched wound, or describe someone being punched in a fight. The term is also used to describe objects that have been marked or pierced by a tool.

When used as an adjective, punched refers to material that has holes or marks produced by a punching operation. Common examples include a punched card, a punched ticket, or punched holes in leather. In manufacturing and data processing, punching is a distinct operation performed with a punch and die or a punching machine to create holes, slots, or shapes in metal, paper, or plastic.

Historically, punched cards and punched tape were widely used in data processing and control systems, especially in early computers, electromechanical devices, and industrial controls. The devices relied on specific hole patterns to encode information.

The term can also appear in sports journalism to describe a punch landed during a bout, or in casual language to describe a strong strike or impact. In all uses, punched conveys that a manual or mechanical action has produced an alteration or impact on the subject.