porous
Letting liquids through
Porous describes material with tiny holes or spaces that allow liquids or gases to pass through: porous rock, porous membrane.
A porous border is easily crossed.
A porous defense in sports lets opponents through too easily.
The word suggests permeability—things flow in and out where perhaps they shouldn't: The company's porous security allowed the breach.
Soft and absorbent
- holeyHaving many openings
- pittedSeed removed, or opposed
- cellularComposed of small units
- honeycombedPerforated with cavities
vesicular · reticulated · lacy · meshy · openwork · foamy · fibrous · perforated
Separating solids from liquids
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
membrane · distillation · charcoal · sand · ceramic · clarification · reverse osmosis · desalination
Absorbent cleaning material
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- wickingLiquid drawn through fibers
- capillarySmallest blood vessel
- soakSaturate with liquid
saturate · blotter · towel · diaper · chamois · tissue · absorbency · thirsty
Light and well-ventilated
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- buoyantAble to float
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- volcanic rockCooled magma material
foam · aerogel · cork · styrofoam · vermiculite · perlite · zeolite · calcium silicate
Slow fluid escape
- leakageUnintended fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
penetrable · semipermeable · pervious · breathable · transmissive · permeability · flux · interstice
Out in open
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
- penetrableCapable of being pierced
- leakyAllowing unwanted seepage
- insecureLacking self-assurance
compromised · security holes · gaps · breachable · unprotected · exploitable · open · accessible
spongy
Soft and absorbent
honeycombed · vesicular · reticulated · lacy · meshy · openwork · foamy · fibrous · perforated · riddled
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
percolation · membrane · distillation · charcoal · sand · ceramic · clarification · reverse osmosis · desalination · carbon filter
sponge
Absorbent cleaning material
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- wickingLiquid drawn through fibers
- capillarySmallest blood vessel
soak · saturate · blotter · towel · diaper · chamois · tissue · absorbency · thirsty · imbibe
airy
Light and well-ventilated
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- buoyantAble to float
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
volcanic rock · foam · aerogel · cork · styrofoam · vermiculite · perlite · zeolite · calcium silicate
seepage
Slow fluid escape
- leakageUnintended fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
diffusion · penetrable · semipermeable · pervious · breathable · transmissive · permeability · flux · interstice · capillarity
exposed
Out in open
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
- penetrableCapable of being pierced
- leakyAllowing unwanted seepage
insecure · compromised · security holes · gaps · breachable · unprotected · exploitable · open · accessible · defenseless
- metal propertiesmalleable, ductile, conductive, magnetic, brittle
- porous texturesspongy, perforated, pitted, cellular, punctured
- mineral propertiesadamantine, vitreous, metallic, pearly, resinous
- hairhair, haircut, hairstyle, hair loss, coily
- fabric texturessoft, smooth, rough, silky, fuzzy
- paper qualitiessmooth, rough, glossy, matte, textured
porousimpermeable
Cannot be penetrated
impervious · nonporous · watertight · airtight · waterproof
porousimpenetrable
Impossible to pass through
secure · impervious · airtight · watertight · fortified
- porous surface
- porous structure
- porous rockRock with interconnected voids