permeability

[ pur-mee-uh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

1. the property or state of being permeable.
2. Also called magnetic permeability. Electricity. a measure of the change in magnetic induction produced when a magnetic material replaces air, expressed as a coefficient or a set of coefficients that multiply the components of magnetic intensity to give the components of magnetic induction.
3. Geology. the capability of a porous rock or sediment to permit the flow of fluids through its pore spaces.
4. Aeronautics. the rate at which gas is lost through the envelope of an aerostat, usually expressed as the number of liters thus diffused in one day through a square meter.
5. Nautical. the capacity of a space in a vessel to absorb water, measured with reference to its temporary or permanent contents and expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the space.

permeability

/ ˌpɜːmɪəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being permeable
2. a measure of the response of a medium to a magnetic field, expressed as the ratio of the magnetic flux density in the medium to the field strength; measured in henries per metre μ See also relative permeability magnetic constant
3. civil engineering the rate of diffusion of a fluid under pressure through soil
4. the rate at which gas diffuses through the surface of a balloon or airship, usually expressed in litres per square metre per day

permeability

/ pûr′mē-ə-bĭl′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability of a substance to allow another substance to pass through it, especially the ability of a porous rock, sediment, or soil to transmit fluid through pores and cracks. Geologic permeability is usually measured in millidarcies.
2. See more at darcy
3. Magnetic permeability.

Other Words From

• nonper·me·a·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeability¹

First recorded in 1750–60; perme(able) + -ability ( def )

Example Sentences

“From what we understand, [with NSAIDs] one of the side effects is that they can affect the permeability of the gut,” says Fasano.

From The Daily Beast

The amount of fluid movement also is further determined by osmotic actions and by the permeability of the capillary wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Another possibility is that the act of fertilization increases the permeability of the egg.

From Project Gutenberg

The interior of the cheese is anaërobic, due to low permeability and high oxygen-absorbing quality.

From Project Gutenberg

The permeability of cobalt, both annealed and unannealed, was always diminished at the low temperature.

From Project Gutenberg

They showed that the permeability of this sample of iron was considerably diminished at the lower temperature.

From Project Gutenberg