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¹sponge

noun \ˈspənj\

: a piece of light natural or artificial material that becomes soft when it is wet, is able to take in and hold liquid, and is used for washing or cleaning

: a type of sea animal from which natural sponges are made

: someone who gets something from someone else without doing or paying anything in return

Full Definition of SPONGE

a (1) : an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals (phylum Porifera) and is able when wetted to absorb water (2) : a piece of sponge (as for scrubbing) (3) : a porous rubber or cellulose product used similarly to a sponge

b : any of a phylum (Porifera) of aquatic chiefly marine simple invertebrate animals that have a double-walled body of loosely aggregated cells with a skeleton supported by spicules or spongin and are filter feeders that are sessile as adults

: a pad (as of folded gauze) used in surgery and medicine (as to remove discharge)

: one who lives on others

a : a soft mixture of yeast, liquid, and flour that is allowed to rise and then mixed with additional ingredients to create bread dough

b : a whipped dessert usually containing whites of eggs or gelatin

c : a metal (as platinum) obtained in porous form usually by reduction without fusion <titanium sponge>

d : the egg mass of a crab

: an absorbent contraceptive device that is impregnated with spermicide and inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse to cover the cervix

— sponge·like \ˈspənj-ˌlīk\ adjective

See sponge defined for English-language learners

See sponge defined for kids

Origin of SPONGE

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SPONGE

Synonyms: bloodsucker, freeloader, free rider, hanger-on, moocher, parasite, leech, sponger

Synonym Discussion of SPONGE

parasite, sycophant, toady, leech, sponge mean a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker. parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society <a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites>. sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation <a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants>. toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker <cultivated leaders of society and became their toady>. leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage <a leech living off his family and friends>. sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger <a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout>.

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

Rhymes with SPONGE

grunge, lunge, plunge

²sponge

verb

: to clean or wipe (something) with a sponge

: to put (paint) on a surface with a sponge

: to get money, food, etc., from (someone) without doing or paying anything in return

spongedspong·ing

Full Definition of SPONGE

transitive verb

: to cleanse, wipe, or moisten with or as if with a sponge

: to erase or destroy with or as if with a sponge —often used with out

: to get by sponging on another

: to absorb with or as if with or in the manner of a sponge

intransitive verb

: to absorb, soak up, or imbibe like a sponge

: to get something from or live on another by imposing on hospitality or good nature <sponged off of her sister>

: to dive or dredge for sponges

— spong·er noun

See sponge defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SPONGE

14th century

Related to SPONGE

Synonyms: drink, imbibe, soak (up), absorb, suck (up), take up

SPONGING Defined for Kids

¹sponge

noun \ˈspənj\

Definition of SPONGE for Kids

: a water animal that lives permanently attached to a solid surface (as the ocean bottom) and has a simple body of loosely connected cells with a skeleton supported by stiff fibers or hard particles

: a piece of springy absorbent material that forms the skeleton of a sponge or is manufactured and that is used for cleaning

: a pad of folded gauze used in surgery and medicine