Word
porosity
Phoneticsporos·i·ty
UK/pɔːɹˈɒsɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the amount of small holes or spaces in a material. These holes can let air, water, or other liquids pass through.
n. the quality or state of being porous; the presence of numerous small openings or interstices in a substance. Often measured as the ratio of void volume to total volume.
Examples
“The high porosity of the soil allows water to drain quickly.”
“Engineers must account for the porosity of the concrete when designing structures that will be exposed to heavy rain.”
“The unique porosity of the volcanic rock allows it to act as a natural filter, removing impurities from groundwater as it passes through the layers.”
Examples
simple
“The high porosity of the soil allows water to drain quickly.”
contextual
“Engineers must account for the porosity of the concrete when designing structures that will be exposed to heavy rain.”
complex
“The unique porosity of the volcanic rock allows it to act as a natural filter, removing impurities from groundwater as it passes through the layers.”
Real-World Examples
“Publishing their discovery in Angewandte Chemie , the team has shown that changing the proportions of metals within the material can alter properties including magnetism, porosity, light absorption and CO₂ uptake.” “In addition to measuring distances, the instrument was designed to measure asteroid density and porosity, surface reflectance, and the presence of levitating dust particles.” Etymology
From porous + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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