sponge
/spʌnd͡ʒ/
noun
Meaning
Any of various marine invertebrates, mostly of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.
A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).
A porous material such as sponges consist of.
A heavy drinker.
A type of light cake.
A type of steamed pudding.
A person who takes advantage of the generosity of others (abstractly imagined to absorb or soak up the money or efforts of others like a sponge).
A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.
Any sponge-like substance.
A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.
The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.
A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.
Synonyms
verb
Meaning
To take advantage of the kindness of others.
"He has been sponging off his friends for a month now."
To get by imposition; to scrounge.
"to sponge a breakfast"
To deprive (somebody) of something by imposition.
To clean, soak up, or dab with a sponge.
To suck in, or imbibe, like a sponge.
To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.
To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast or leaven.
Synonyms