porous

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English

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Etymology

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From Old French poros, from Latin porus (an opening).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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porous (comparative more porous, superlative most porous)

  1. Full of tiny pores that allow fluids or gasses to pass through.
    Synonym: permeable
    Sponges are porous so they can filter water while trapping food.
    Concrete is porous, so water will slowly filter through it.
  2. (figurative) With many gaps or loopholes.
    • 2011 May 14, Peter Scrivener, “Sunderland 1 - 3 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport[1]:
      However, Wolves [sic] porous defence opened up again to gift Sunderland a foothold in the game - Sessegnon sweeping in a Zenden corner that was inexplicably allowed to bounce in the six-yard box.
    • 2012, Miguel Antonio Levario, Militarizing the Border: When Mexicans Became the Enemy, page 125:
      [] a porous border consequently positioned migrants from Mexico and ethnic Mexicans residing in the United States as potential terrorists.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Chuukese

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Noun

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porous

  1. Alternative form of poraus