porosity

noun
po·​ros·​i·​ty | \ pə-ˈrä-sə-tē How to pronounce porosity (audio) , pȯ-\
plural porosities

Definition of porosity

1a : the quality or state of being porous
b : the ratio of the volume of interstices of a material to the volume of its mass
2 : pore

Examples of porosity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers subjected these samples to a variety of analyses, from porosity to ability to conduct heat. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, "Viking History Is Melting Away in Greenland," 11 July 2019 The North Face can adjust the porosity, hardiness, and stretch of Futurelight by tweaking the density of the fibers, the thickness of the membrane (by laying more or fewer fibers), and the amount of glue used to adhere the fabric’s layers together. Frederick Reimers, Outside Online, "On the Slopes in the North Face Futurelight Shell," 10 June 2019 The second is the porosity of urban boundaries: the creation and preservation of active in-between places that keep different urban realms connected rather than cut off from each other. Shlomo Angel, WSJ, "‘Building and Dwelling’ Review: A Manifesto for the Open City," 6 July 2018 Juričić worked with Arup to develop the shape, which was created with generative algorithms that use parameters like the room’s shape, the archetypal form of Mediterranean pergolas, and desired porosity to inform the pergola’s final form. Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Ethereal 3D-printed pergola debuts at Venice Architecture Biennale," 18 June 2018 The rocks that are easiest to tap have both high porosity (meaning: big holes) and high permeability (holes that connect well to each other). Jeffrey Ball, Fortune, "Photographing The Permian Basin," 25 May 2018 Shale tends to have both low porosity and low permeability. Jeffrey Ball, Fortune, "Photographing The Permian Basin," 25 May 2018 Other constituents might interfere with the permeability and porosity of the shale itself, gumming up oil production. Jennifer Hiller, San Antonio Express-News, "Oil field wastewater finds a second life," 7 May 2018 The porosity of these soils stores more water, which contributes to the wines’ characteristic freshness and exuberance. Bloomberg.com, "Volcanic Wines Are Heating Up Around the Globe," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'porosity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of porosity

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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More Definitions for porosity

porosity

noun
po·​ros·​i·​ty | \ pə-ˈräs-ət-ē, pō-, pȯ- How to pronounce porosity (audio) \
plural porosities

Medical Definition of porosity

1a : the quality or state of being porous
b : the ratio of the volume of interstices of a material to the volume of its mass
2 : pore

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