sievelike

Sievelike is an adjective used to describe objects, surfaces, or textures that resemble a sieve in having a network of openings that permit the passage of smaller items while restricting larger ones. It implies porosity or mesh-like structure, with a characteristic distribution of pores that can be regular or irregular. The term is commonly applied when the exact pore size is not specified, but the general filtering or separating function is evident.

In filtration and separation contexts, sievelike materials act as barriers with defined yet sometimes nonuniform pore sizes. They include woven meshes, perforated plates, microporous membranes, and porous solids whose flow and particle-retention behavior follow sieve-like principles. The effectiveness depends on pore size distribution, pore connectivity, and the tortuosity of the void space.

In natural and engineered systems, sievelike textures appear in sedimentary sorting, porous rock networks, and biological membranes that regulate transport. In industry, sievelike features are exploited in filters, screens, coatings, and filtration equipment to separate materials by size.

Although widely understood, sievelike remains a qualitative descriptor. Technical descriptions typically specify pore size, porosity, permeability, and related properties to convey precise behavior.

See also: sieve, filtration, porous material.