SPONGES | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

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

a primitive sedentary aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body that is typically supported by a framework of fibres or calcareous or glassy spicules. Sponges draw in a current of water to extract nutrients and oxygen.

primitive sedentary aquatic invertebrate with soft porous body

a piece of a soft, light, porous absorbent substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of an aquatic invertebrate but now usually made of synthetic material, used for washing and cleaning.

piece of soft, light, porous absorbent substance originally consisting of fibrous skeleton of aquatic invertebrate but now usually made of synthetic material

a light cake made by beating eggs with sugar, flour, and usually butter or other fat

light cake

• a chocolate sponge
• the gateau is made with moist sponge

a person who lives at someone else's expense.

person who lives at someone else's expense

a heavy drinker.

heavy drinker

wipe or clean with a wet sponge or cloth

wipe or clean with wet sponge or cloth

• she sponged him down in an attempt to cool his fever

obtain or accept money or food from other people without doing or intending to do anything in return

obtain or accept money or food from other people without doing or intending to do anything in return

• they found they could earn a perfectly good living by sponging off others