sponge
(spŭnj)n.1. a. Any of numerous aquatic, chiefly marine filter-feeding invertebrate animals of the phylum Porifera, characteristically having a porous skeleton composed of fibrous material or siliceous or calcareous spicules and often forming colonies attached to an underwater surface. Also called poriferan.
b. A piece of the absorbent skeleton of certain of these organisms, or a piece of plastic or another material that is similar in absorbency, used for cleaning, bathing, and other purposes.
2. Metal in a porous, brittle form, as after the removal of other metals in processing, used as a raw material in manufacturing.
3. A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or the dressing of a wound.
4. A small absorbent contraceptive pad that contains a spermicide and is placed against the cervix of the uterus before sexual intercourse.
5. Dough that has been or is being leavened.
6. A light cake, such as sponge cake.
7. Informal One who habitually depends on others for one's own maintenance.
8. Slang A person who drinks large amounts of alcohol.
v. sponged, spong·ing, spong·es
v.tr.1. To moisten, wipe, or clean with a sponge or cloth: sponge off the table.
2. To remove or absorb with a sponge or cloth: sponge off the sweat; sponge up the mess.
3. To apply or daub with a sponge: sponge paint on the wall.
4. Informal To obtain free, as by begging or freeloading: sponge a meal.
v.intr.1. To harvest sponges.
2. Informal To obtain something such as food or money by relying on the generosity of others: sponged off her parents.
[Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek spongiā, from spongos.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sponge
(spʌndʒ) n1. (Animals) any multicellular typically marine animal of the phylum Porifera, usually occurring in complex sessile colonies in which the porous body is supported by a fibrous, calcareous, or siliceous skeletal framework
2. (Textiles) a piece of the light porous highly absorbent elastic skeleton of certain sponges, used in bathing, cleaning, etc. See also
spongin 3. (Textiles) any of a number of light porous elastic materials resembling a sponge
5. (Brewing) informal a person who indulges in heavy drinking
6. (Cookery) leavened dough, esp before kneading
8. (Cookery) Also called: sponge pudding Brit a light steamed or baked pudding, spongy in texture, made with various flavourings or fruit
9. (Elements & Compounds) porous metal produced by electrolysis or by reducing a metal compound without fusion or sintering and capable of absorbing large quantities of gas: platinum sponge.
10. a rub with a sponge
vb12. (tr; often foll by off or down) to clean (something) by wiping or rubbing with a damp or wet sponge
13. (tr; usually foll by off, away, out, etc) to remove (marks, etc) by rubbing with a damp or wet sponge or cloth
14. (when: tr, often foll by up) to absorb (liquids, esp when spilt) in the manner of a sponge
15. (often foll by: off) to get (something) from (someone) by presuming on his generosity: to sponge a meal off someone.
16. (intr; often foll by off or on) to obtain one's subsistence, welfare, etc, unjustifiably (from): he sponges off his friends.
17. (Zoology) (intr) to go collecting sponges
[Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek]
ˈspongeˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sponge
(spʌndʒ)
n., v. sponged, spong•ing. n. 1. any porous, aquatic, sessile animal of the phylum Porifera, having a fibrous siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton and lacking tissue organization.
2. the skeleton of certain sponges, readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness.
3. a piece of any of various absorbent materials, as a block of porous cellulose or a surgical gauze pad.
4. a person or thing that absorbs something freely.
5. a person who lives at the expense of others; sponger.
6. Informal. a drunkard.
7. a porous mass of metallic particles, as of platinum, obtained by the reduction of an oxide or purified compound at a temperature below the melting point.
8. a. yeast-raised bread dough, esp. before kneading.
b. a light pudding made with gelatin, fruit juice, etc.
9. a disposable piece of polyurethane foam impregnated with a spermicide for insertion into the vagina as a contraceptive.
v.t. 10. to wipe or rub with or as if with a wet sponge.
11. to wipe out or efface with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by out).
12. to take up or absorb with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by up).
13. to obtain by imposing on another's good nature.
v.i. 14. to take in or soak up liquid by absorption.
15. to live at the expense of others (often fol. by on or off).
16. to gather sponges.
[before 1000; (n.) Middle English, Old English < Latin spongia, spongea < Greek spongia]
spong′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
sponge
(spŭnj)1. Any of various primitive invertebrate animals that live in the ocean and are attached to rocks or other objects. Unlike other animals, sponges have bodies with only one type of tissue and no organs. The bodies have many passages and chambers that water flows through so that food can be filtered out.
2. The soft, porous, absorbent skeleton of certain of these animals, used for bathing, cleaning, and other purposes.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.