pervious
Letting things through
Pervious means allowing passage through, especially of water or other fluids.
A pervious surface like gravel lets rainwater soak into the ground, while asphalt does not.
The word appears most often in technical contexts—urban planning, geology, construction: pervious pavement reduces runoff.
The opposite is impervious.
Allowing substances through
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- percolateFilter through gradually
leach · drainage · filtration · permeation · osmosis · diffuse · transmissive · semipermeable
Allowing passage of fluids
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
- meshInterlocking open weave
- foamBubble-filled substance
- cellularComposed of small units
lattice · reticulate · vesicular · cavernous · pumice · coral · aerated · honeycomb
Capable of being pierced
- pierceMake hole through
- perforateMake holes through
- breachBreaking of agreement
- punctureHole from penetration
bore · penetrate · infiltrate · perforable · passable · accessible · enterable · tunnel
Open to input
- openNot closed
- amenableWilling to comply
- accessibleAble to be reached
- impressionableEasily influenced or affected
susceptible · responsive · suggestible · teachable · malleable · yielding · pliant · acquiescent
Able to soak up
- soakSaturate with liquid
- saturateSoak to full capacity
- imbibeTo consume liquid
- absorptionProcess of taking in
wicking · blotter · hygroscopic · desiccant · towel · chamois · sponge · absorbency
permeable
Allowing substances through
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
percolate · leach · drainage · filtration · permeation · osmosis · diffuse · transmissive · semipermeable · conductivity
porous
Allowing passage of fluids
cellular · lattice · reticulate · vesicular · cavernous · pumice · coral · aerated · honeycomb · perforated
penetrable
Capable of being pierced
puncture · bore · penetrate · infiltrate · perforable · passable · accessible · enterable · tunnel · sieve
receptive
Open to input
- openNot closed
- amenableWilling to comply
- accessibleAble to be reached
impressionable · susceptible · responsive · suggestible · teachable · malleable · yielding · pliant · acquiescent · tractable
absorbent
Able to soak up
absorption · wicking · blotter · hygroscopic · desiccant · towel · chamois · sponge · absorbency · swab
perviousimpervious
Unable to be affected
impermeable · impenetrable · watertight · nonporous · airtight
perviousimpervious
Unable to be affected
unreceptive · closed-minded · resistant · unresponsive · insusceptible