(~s, sponging, ~d)
1.
Sponge is a very light soft substance with lots of little holes in it, which can be either artificial or natural. It is used to clean things or as a soft layer.
...a ~ mattress.
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2.
A ~ is a sea animal with a soft round body made of natural ~.
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3.
A ~ is a piece of ~ that you use for washing yourself or for cleaning things.
He wiped off the table with a ~.
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4.
If you ~ something, you clean it by wiping it with a wet ~.
Fill a bowl with water and gently ~ your face and body.
VERB: V n
•
Sponge down means the same as ~ .
If your child’s temperature rises, ~ her down gently with tepid water.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P
5.
A ~ is a light cake or pudding made from flour, eggs, sugar, and sometimes fat.
It makes a superb filling for cakes and ~s.
N-VAR
6.
If you say that someone ~s off other people or ~s on them, you mean that they regularly get money from other people when they should be trying to support themselves. (INFORMAL)
He should just get an honest job and stop sponging off the rest of us!...
He spent his life grumbling about missed opportunities and sponging on his father for money.
VERB: V off n, V on n disapproval