tusk vs pierce

tusk is a noun but pierce is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
tusk	Yes	No	Yes	No
pierce	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, pierce is a hypernym of tusk; that is, pierce is a word with a broader meaning than tusk:

Other hypernyms of tusk include thrust.

tusk (noun)	pierce (noun)
a long pointed tooth specialized for fighting or digging; especially in an elephant or walrus or hog
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

tusk (verb)	pierce (verb)
remove the tusks of animals	make a hole into
stab or pierce with a horn or tusk	penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
	cut or make a way through
	move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply
	sound sharply or shrilly