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Glite Dictionary
microporous

microporous

1 8.7
A material with many tiny holes too small to see without a microscope
  • adjective
  • /ˌmaɪkroʊˈpɔrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : microporoso
  • microporous breathable
  • microporous waterproof
  • microporous membrane

Examples

  • The system uses a cross-flow microfiltration concept which employs thick-walled microporous plastic tubes.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Lage pioneered the use of compressed microporous media for cooling airborne military avionics, for which he received a patent.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The jacket is made from a microporous material that keeps rain out while allowing sweat to escape.

  • Many outdoor products are designed with microporous membranes to enhance comfort during physical activities.

  • Scientists use microporous films in filtration processes because they can separate particles at a microscopic level.

Synonyms

porous
vsmicroporous
23 4.6

Full of small holes that let water or air pass through

focuses on extremely small pore size rather than general permeability
porose
vsmicroporous
  • Specialized
9.9

Having many small holes that let water or air pass through

is limited to extremely small pores visible only under a microscope

How Porous

porous
23 4.6
microporous
  • Specialized
1 8.7
nonporous
1 6.5

Surface Forms

microporous positive

Morphology

microporous = porous (transparent) = micro + porous

The meaning is directly compositional: 'micro-' adds the sense of small size to 'porous'.

Etymology

The word microporous comes from the part micro- meaning 'small' and porous, from a word for a 'pore' or 'passage'. So, microporous means 'having very small holes', which explains why we use it for materials that let air or liquid pass but block larger things.