sponge /spʌnd͡ʒ/noun 16verb 8forms 5phrases 4 noun16 •A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair. — 1913 •The porous material that synthetic washing sponges are made of. •A type of light cake.After six hours of work I got this amazing sponge with fresh strawberries, crème fraîche, crème chantilly, custard, crumble and meringues, something quite rich and outstanding. — 2021 •(UK) A type of steamed pudding. •Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica. •(slang) 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 person who readily absorbs ideas. •Any sponge-like substance. •Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven. •Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition. •Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked. •A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge. •(informal) A heavy drinker. •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 great guns ranged along the deck — each bound fast by its new breechings — with their linstocks and sponges and ladles and rammers, made no idle show of warlike strength. — 1923 •(slang) A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation. •The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel. verb8 •To clean, soak up, or dab with a sponge.Before stepping into the bath the head should be wet with cold water, and in the bath the pit of the stomach should first be sponged. — 1876 •To get by imposition; to scrounge.July 17 1735, Jonathan Swift, letter to Lord Ornery I am an utter stranger to the persons and places, except when half a score come to sponge on me every Sunday evening •(slang) To take advantage of the kindness of others.He has been sponging off his friends for a month now. •To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.Lett the eyes which have looked on Idols, sponge out their unlawfull acts — 1594 •To suck in, or imbibe, like a sponge. •To deprive (somebody) of something by imposition.How came such multitudes of our nation […] to be sponged of their plate and their money? — 1692 •To use a piece of wild sponge as a tool when foraging for food.Why do dolphins sponge instead of foraging in a more "normal" way? — 2013 •To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast or leaven. formssponged · spongeing · sponging · sponges · spongeth Phrases with sponge sponge downA quick clean of something (namely the body) with a sponge. sponge outTo clean the inside of (something) by using a sponge. sponge upTo clean with a sponge throw up the spongeTo give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; to throw in the towel.
