porous

CEFRC1

/ˈpɔːɹəs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Having small holes that allow liquid or air to pass through.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    With many gaps or loopholes.

Examples

  • The countries have competing claims to villages and towns along the porous, undefined border.

  • White glue can be used on any smooth, porous surface.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ˈpoːɹəs/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Full of tiny pores that allow fluids or gasses to pass through.

More examples

In context

  • Her hair is rather porous.

  • Concrete is porous, so water will slowly filter through it.

  • Sponges are porous so they can filter water while trapping food.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Because it has many tiny holes, the rock is blank and lets water through.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

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