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Definitions for Sponge

[1] any aquatic, chiefly marine animal of the phylum Porifera, having a porous structure and usually a horny, siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton or framework, occurring in large, sessile colonies.
[2] the light, yielding, porous, fibrous skeleton or framework of certain animals or colonies of this group, especially of the genera Spongia and Hippospongia, from which the living matter has been removed, characterized by readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness: used in bathing, in wiping or cleaning surfaces, etc.
[3] any of various other similar substances, often porous rubber or cellulose, used for washing or cleaning.
[4] sponge bath.
[5] a person or thing that absorbs something freely: His mind is a sponge gathering historical data.
[6] a person who persistently borrows from or lives at the expense of others; sponger; parasite.
[7] Informal . a drunkard.
[8] Metallurgy . 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.
[9] Surgery . a sterile surgical dressing of absorbent material, usually cotton gauze, for wiping or absorbing pus, blood, or other fluids during a surgical operation.
[10] Cookery . dough raised with yeast, especially before kneading, as for bread. a light, sweet pudding of a porous texture, made with gelatin, eggs, fruit juice or other flavoring material, etc.
[11] a disposable piece of polyurethane foam impregnated with a spermicide for insertion into the vagina as a contraceptive.
[12] to wipe or rub with or as with a wet sponge, as to moisten or clean.
[13] to remove with or as with a wet sponge (usually followed by off, away, etc.).
[14] to wipe out or efface with or as with a sponge (often followed by out ).
[15] to take up or absorb with or as with a sponge (often followed by up ): to sponge up water.
[16] to borrow, use, or obtain by imposing on another's good nature, friendship, hospitality, or the like: He sponged 40 bucks from his friend and went to the city.
[17] Ceramics . to decorate (a ceramic object) by dabbing at it with a sponge soaked with color.
[18] to take in or soak up liquid by absorption.
[19] to gather sponges.
[20] to live at the expense of others (often followed by on or off ): He came back home and sponged off his family for a while.
[21] throw in the sponge , Informal . to concede defeat; yield; give up: The early election returns were heavily against him, but he wasn't ready to throw in the sponge.
[22] 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
[23] a piece of the light porous highly absorbent elastic skeleton of certain sponges, used in bathing, cleaning, etc See also spongin
[24] any of a number of light porous elastic materials resembling a sponge
[25] another word for sponger (def. 1)
[26] informal a person who indulges in heavy drinking
[27] leavened dough, esp before kneading
[28] See sponge cake
[29] Also called: sponge pudding British a light steamed or baked pudding, spongy in texture, made with various flavourings or fruit
[30] 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
[31] a rub with a sponge
[32] throw in the sponge See throw in (def. 4)
[33] (tr; often foll by off or down) to clean (something) by wiping or rubbing with a damp or wet sponge
[34] (tr; usually foll by off, away, out, etc ) to remove (marks, etc) by rubbing with a damp or wet sponge or cloth
[35] (when tr, often foll by up ) to absorb (liquids, esp when spilt) in the manner of a sponge
[36] (tr often foll by off ) to get (something) from (someone) by presuming on his generosity to sponge a meal off someone
[37] (intr; often foll by off or on) to obtain one's subsistence, welfare, etc, unjustifiably (from) he sponges off his friends
[38] (intr) to go collecting sponges

Words related to Sponge

parasite, cadger, panhandler, deadbeat, bum, freeloader, hanger-on, leech, scrounger, chisel, beg, scrounge, freeload, cadge, panhandle, hustle

Words nearby Sponge

spondylopathy, spondylopyosis, spondyloschisis, spondylosis, spondylosyndesis, sponge, sponge bag, sponge bath, sponge cake, sponge cloth, sponge down

Origin of Sponge

before 1000; (noun) Middle English, Old English < Latin spongia, spongea < Greek spongiā́; (v.) Middle English spongen to clean with a sponge, derivative of the noun

Other words from Sponge

sponge·less , adjective
sponge·like , adjective
spong·ing·ly , adverb
un·sponged , adjective

Word origin for Sponge

Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek

Synonyms for Sponge

parasite, bum, cadger, deadbeat, freeloader, hanger-on, leech, panhandler, scrounger