I. ˈspənj noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) : an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals (phylum Porifera) and is able when wetted to absorb water
(2) : a piece of sponge (as for scrubbing and cleaning)
(3) : a porous rubber or cellulose product used similarly to a sponge
b. : any of a phylum (Porifera) of aquatic chiefly marine simple invertebrate animals that have a double-walled body of loosely aggregated cells with a skeleton supported by spicules or spongin and are filter feeders that are sessile as adults
2. : a pad (as of folded gauze) used in surgery and medicine (as to remove discharge or apply medication)
3. : one who lives on others : sponger
4.
a. : a soft mixture of yeast, liquid, and flour that is allowed to rise and then mixed with additional ingredients to create bread dough
b. : a whipped dessert usually containing whites of eggs or gelatin
c. : a metal (as platinum) obtained in porous form usually by reduction without fusion
titanium sponge
d. : the egg mass of a crab
5. : an absorbent contraceptive device that is impregnated with spermicide and inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse to cover the cervix
Synonyms: see parasite
II. verb
( sponged ; spong·ing )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to cleanse, wipe, or moisten with or as if with a sponge
2. : to erase or destroy with or as if with a sponge — often used with out
3. : to get by sponging on another
4. : to absorb with or as if with or in the manner of a sponge
intransitive verb
1. : to absorb, soak up, or imbibe like a sponge
2. : to get something from or live on another by imposing on hospitality or good nature
sponged off of her sister
3. : to dive or dredge for sponges
• spong·er noun