porous

[ pawr-uhs, pohr- ]

adjective

1. full of pores.
2. permeable by water, air, etc.

   Synonyms: sievelike, riddled, pervious, penetrable

porous

/ ˈpɔːrəs /

adjective

1. permeable to water, air, or other fluids
2. biology geology having pores; poriferous
3. easy to cross or penetrate

   the most porous defence in the league

   the porous border into Thailand

porous

/ pôr′əs /

1. Having many pores or other small spaces that can hold a gas or liquid or allow it to pass through.

Derived Forms

• ˈporousness, noun
• ˈporously, adverb

Other Words From

• porous·ly adverb
• porous·ness noun
• non·porous adjective
• non·porous·ness noun
• un·porous adjective
• un·porous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of porous¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of porose, from Medieval Latin porōsus; pore ², -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of porous¹

C14: from Medieval Latin porōsus, from Late Latin porus pore ²

Example Sentences

Unlike previously reported porous organic crystals, the Janus crystals combine water-collection and water-delivery functions at their surface, creating a highly efficient water harvesting process that maximizes the amount of collected water at ambient conditions.

From Science Daily

Regarding the Rams’ bungling offense and porous defense, I’m reminded of advice given to me as a child.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, chemists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that a porous material can act like a sponge to capture CO2 at temperatures close to those of many industrial exhaust streams.

From Science Daily

These synthetic porous materials of interest to chemists specializing in selective encapsulation include such buzzwords as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, and zeolites.

From Science Daily

While the defence looked in good nick against New Zealand, it was markedly porous against the Wallabies.

From BBC