permeability

[ pur-mee-uh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

1. the property or state of being permeable.
2. Also called magnetic permeability. Electricity. a measure of the change in magnetic induction produced when a magnetic material replaces air, expressed as a coefficient or a set of coefficients that multiply the components of magnetic intensity to give the components of magnetic induction.
3. Geology. the capability of a porous rock or sediment to permit the flow of fluids through its pore spaces.
4. Aeronautics. the rate at which gas is lost through the envelope of an aerostat, usually expressed as the number of liters thus diffused in one day through a square meter.
5. Nautical. the capacity of a space in a vessel to absorb water, measured with reference to its temporary or permanent contents and expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the space.

permeability

/ ˌpɜːmɪəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being permeable
2. a measure of the response of a medium to a magnetic field, expressed as the ratio of the magnetic flux density in the medium to the field strength; measured in henries per metre μ See also relative permeability magnetic constant
3. civil engineering the rate of diffusion of a fluid under pressure through soil
4. the rate at which gas diffuses through the surface of a balloon or airship, usually expressed in litres per square metre per day

permeability

/ pûr′mē-ə-bĭl′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability of a substance to allow another substance to pass through it, especially the ability of a porous rock, sediment, or soil to transmit fluid through pores and cracks. Geologic permeability is usually measured in millidarcies.
2. See more at darcy
3. Magnetic permeability.

Other Words From

• nonper·me·a·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeability¹

First recorded in 1750–60; perme(able) + -ability ( def )

Example Sentences

We discovered the increased permeability in a gut cell model when DGP accumulates, reports Dr. Maria Georgina Herrera, the first author of the study.

From Science Daily

In celiac disease, there's debate about the early stages of increased permeability.

From Science Daily

During heavy exercise, the stomach produces less acid than usual and gut permeability increases, meaning that small molecules in your gut are more likely to escape across the membrane into your blood.

From Salon

In a paper published recently in Geophysical Research Letters, a Jackson School of Geosciences research group led by Harm Van Avendonk, Nathan Bangs and Nicola Tisato explores how the makeup of rocks, specifically their permeability -- or how easily fluids can flow through them -- affects the frequency and intensity of slow slip events.

From Science Daily

The researchers brought back a cache of rocks to UT, where they tested their permeability and elastic properties.

From Science Daily