adj
Uncommon
porous
PAW-ruhs
Porous (adj) means having many tiny holes that let liquid or gas pass through. Example: “Porous rock absorbs rainwater like a sponge.”
adj
1
Having many tiny holes that let liquid or gas pass through.
"Porous rock absorbs rainwater like a sponge."
2
Having gaps or weaknesses that let things through, especially figuratively.
"The country's porous borders made smuggling easy."
How to use porous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of tiny holes that let things pass through — literally (like rock or fabric) or figuratively (like a weak border or defense).
Common pairings
porous rock
porous skin
porous border
porous defense
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more porous
- Superlative
- most porous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ rock absorbs rainwater like a sponge.
Etymology
From Old French poros, ultimately from Latin porus ("an opening"), the same root as "pore".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonporous
Related words
Rhymes for porous
See all rhymes for porous →Frequently asked questions
What does “porous” mean?
The word “porous” means having many tiny holes that let liquid or gas pass through. In plain terms, full of tiny holes that let things pass through — literally (like rock or fabric) or figuratively (like a weak border or defense).
How do you pronounce “porous”?
“Porous” is pronounced PAW-ruhs (/ˈpɔɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “porous” in a sentence?
Here is “porous” used in a sentence: “Porous rock absorbs rainwater like a sponge.”
What part of speech is “porous”?
“Porous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “porous” come from?
The word “porous” comes from Latin. From Old French poros, ultimately from Latin porus ("an opening"), the same root as "pore".
Is “porous” a common word?
“Porous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “porous” have?
“Porous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having many tiny holes that let liquid or gas pass through.
