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permeable

permeable

4 5.8
A material that lets water or air pass through it
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɜrmiəbl/
translation icon : permeable
  • First, engineers drill a well several kilometers into permeable rock like sandstone or basalt.
  • permeable membrane
  • permeable soils
  • gas-permeable

Now this is a non permeable, non permeable membrane so it doesn't allow the salt to cross.

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Examples

  • It seems to be some sort of flexible but permeable and hardened material that is unlike something that we've ever seen before.

    GQ
  • The new pavement is made of permeable materials, which help reduce flooding by allowing water to seep into the ground.

  • Water would go inside because only things that are permeable would go inside.

  • The crushed glass also appeared to be more durable and permeable than natural sand.

    Academic text (2001)
  • So if this membrane is permeable to sodium, it's going to diffuse from inside to outside.

  • Beach sand makes highly permeable sandstones, which make wonderful petroleum reservoirs.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Clearly, globalization can create permeable borders or impenetrable barriers.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The garden features a permeable membrane that allows water to drain through it easily.

  • Rainwater filters through the permeable soil, nourishing the plants below.

Synonyms

porous
vspermeable
23 4.6

Full of small holes that let water or air pass through

is about allowing liquids or gases to pass rather than stressing small holes
breathable
vspermeable
15 3.3

A material that lets air pass through to keep you cool and dry

is broader, allowing liquids or gases to pass rather than mainly air
pervious
vspermeable
1 7.8

To let water, light, or air pass through

is the same idea described instead as allowing liquids or gases to pass

Antonyms

4 6.6

Not allowing water or air to pass through

How Permeable

porous
23 4.6
permeable
4 5.8
semipermeable
  • Specialized
1 7.0
impermeable
4 6.6

Surface Forms

permeable positive

Morphology

permeable = permeate (transparent) = permeate + able

Standard adjective formation from the verb 'permeate' with '-able', meaning 'capable of being permeated' or 'allowing passage'.

Etymology

The word permeable comes from parts meaning 'through', per-, and 'to pass', meare, and you can see the same idea in permeate. So, a permeable material is one that lets water or air 'pass through' it.