porous

From Old French poros, from Latin porus (“an opening”). By surface analysis, pore +‎ -ous.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɔːɹəs/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈpɔɹəs/, [ˈpɔ.ɹəs]
• (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈpoːɹəs/

  • Audio (Queensland):

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• Rhymes: -ɔːɹəs

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.

porous

1. alternative form of poraus