Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
poriferous

poriferous

9.9
Full of small holes that let water or air pass through
  • adjective
  • /pəˈrɪfərəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : poroso
  • The poriferous nature of the rock allows water to seep through easily.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the poriferous structure of sponges under a microscope.

  • The sponge is a poriferous creature that filters water.

  • A poriferous membrane can be used in various filtration systems.

  • Coral reefs are often poriferous and support diverse marine life.

  • Scientists studied the poriferous structure of sponges under a microscope.

  • The poriferous nature of the rock allows water to seep through easily.

  • A poriferous membrane can be used in various filtration systems.

Synonyms

porous
vsporiferous
23 4.6

Full of small holes that let water or air pass through

is a more formal term for the same many small openings
holey
vsporiferous
1 4.2

Full of holes that let things pass through

describes small or microscopic openings rather than large visible holes
porotic
vsporiferous
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A material like rock or bone that lets air and water pass through

is the neutral general word for many small openings, not mainly medical
porose
vsporiferous
  • Specialized
9.9

Having many small holes that let water or air pass through

is the broader word for many small openings beyond biological tissues

Antonyms

solid
325 1.0

Firm and hard so it keeps its shape, not liquid

How Porous

porous
23 4.6
poriferous
  • Specialized
9.9
perforated
1 4.3
nonporous
1 6.5

Surface Forms

poriferous positive

Morphology

poriferous = pore (opaque) = pore + iferous

Although the word is historically based on 'pore' plus a learned '-iferous' element, the suffix is not transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Poriferous comes from the simple word pore 'small hole' and the Latin part -ferous 'bearing' or 'carrying', the same ending you see in coniferous, which means 'cone-bearing'. Think of a sponge that 'carries' lots of tiny holes, and that's why poriferous describes something full of small openings.