noun
porosity
por-AH-suh-tee/pɔːˈrɑːsəti/
The degree to which a material contains tiny openings.
The pumice stone's porosity allows water to trickle through its holes.
Etymology
A pore is literally a passage or way. Porosity names the quality of containing these tiny passages, through which liquid or air can move.
In context
two important properties to understand are porosity and permeability these tell us how much space is available in a material and how well fluid can move through it
More examples
- Engineers measure the porosity of concrete samples.
- Firing temperature affects the porosity of clay pottery.
- These two soil samples have different porosities.
Forms
porosity · porosities
porous adjective — Containing many tiny holes or openings.
Similar words
- porousness
- A close synonym that emphasizes the condition of having pores.