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   Sponge

   /spənj/

   

   noun

   • 1. a primitive sedentary aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body that is typically supported by a framework of fibers or calcareous or glassy spicules. Sponges draw in a current of water to extract nutrients and oxygen.
   • 2. a piece of a soft, light, porous substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of an invertebrate but now usually made of synthetic material. Sponges absorb liquid and are used for washing and cleaning.
   • ▪ an act of wiping or cleaning with a sponge: "they gave him a quick sponge down"
   • ▪ sponge used as padding or insulating material: "the headguard is padded with sponge"
   • ▪ a piece of sponge impregnated with spermicide and inserted into a woman's vagina as a form of barrier contraceptive.
   • ▪ metal in a porous form, typically prepared by reduction without fusion or by electrolysis: "platinum sponge"
   • 3. short for sponge cake British
   • ▪ a steamed or baked pudding of fat, flour, and eggs.
   • 4. a person who lives at someone else's expense. informal, derogatory
   • 5. a heavy drinker. informal

   verb

   • 1. wipe, rub, or clean with a wet sponge or cloth: "she sponged him down in an attempt to cool his fever"
   • ▪ remove or wipe away (liquid or a mark) with a wet sponge or cloth: "I'll go and sponge this orange juice off my dress"
   • ▪ give a decorative mottled or textured effect to (a painted wall or surface) by applying a different shade of paint with a sponge: "she repainted the walls white, then sponged them in turquoise, green, and lilac"
   • 2. obtain or accept money or food from other people without doing or intending to do anything in return: informal "they found they could earn a perfectly good living by sponging off others"
   • ▪ obtain (something) without doing anything in return for it: "he edged closer, clearly intending to sponge money from her"

   Word Origin Old English (in sponge (sense 2 of the noun)), via Latin from Greek spongia, later form of spongos, reinforced in Middle English by Old French esponge.

   Derivatives

   • 1. spongeable adjective
   • 2. sponge-like adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

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