ENGLISH
REFERENCE

porous

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɔɹəs// UK //pˈɔːɹəs// por·ous

adj. having many tiny holes that allow air or liquid to pass through slowly.

adj. possessing minute interstices through which fluids or gases may pass. Often used figuratively to describe boundaries or systems that are easily penetrated.


SIMPLE

Sponges are very porous materials.

CONTEXTUAL

The gardener added sand to the heavy clay soil to make it more porous and improve drainage.

COMPLEX

Geologists analyzed the porous limestone to determine how quickly groundwater could move through the aquifer and reach the local wells.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Old French poros, from Latin porus (“an opening”). By surface analysis, pore + -ous.

Usage

Typically used as a gradable adjective; often appears after linking verbs like 'is' or 'seems'.

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