Can the word "drain" be used by the liquid itself?
Hello,
This is my sentence:
[...] thus allowing the slurry to drain through the pores [...]
I understand that drain in this context has always a meaning of removing a liquid from something, not the liquid removing itself, so it would be wrong in the sentence above?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has this definition:
transitive verb
2a : to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely
drained all the water out of the pool
but also this other two definitions:
intransitive verb
1a : to flow off gradually
b : to disappear gradually : DWINDLE
"his nervousness drained away, as it always did"
— H. A. Sinclair
But to me they seam rather figurative...
Remembering this is for academic writing, so no figurative meaning can be used...
I understand that flow would be a good substitute, but drain seems to be used more in cases where gravity is involved...
Top answer
" The word "pores" implies very small openings allowing for very limited flow only, thus "drain" would not be right, since it implies rapid, voluminous flow through large openings.
- " The word "pores" implies very small openings allowing for very limited flow only, thus "drain" would not be right, since it implies rapid, voluminous flow through large openings.
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In a technical-scientific context this phrase would be "...thus allowing the slurry to seep through the pores..." The word "pores" implies very small openings allowing for very limited flow only, thus "drain" would not be right, since it implies rapid, voluminous flow through large openings.
0GrammartistCan the word "drain" be used by the liquid itself?
Yes.
GrammartistThis is my sentence: [...] thus allowing the slurry to drain through the pores [...]
OK.
CJ
0We drained the water from the pool.
Water drains along watersheds to the sea.
Drain is one of the ergative verbs.
Read more here:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar-reference/ergative-verbs
0
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