SPONGE


Meaning of SPONGE in English

■ noun

1》 a sedentary aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body supported by a framework of fibres or spicules. [Phylum Porifera.]

2》 a piece of a soft, light, porous absorbent substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of a ~ but now usually made of synthetic material, used for washing, as padding, etc.

↘a piece of ~ impregnated with spermicide and inserted into a woman's vagina as a form of barrier contraceptive.

3》 Brit. a very light cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour but little or no fat.

4》 informal a person who lives at someone else's expense.

5》 informal a heavy drinker.

6》 metal in a porous form.

■ verb ( ~s , sponging or ~ing , ~d )

1》 wipe or clean with a wet ~ or cloth.

2》 (often ~ off ) informal obtain money or food from others without giving anything in return.

3》 give a decorative effect to (a wall or surface) by applying paint with a ~.

↘decorate (pottery) using a ~.

Derivatives

~able adjective

~-like adjective

Origin

OE, via L. from Gk spongia , later form of spongos , reinforced in ME by OFr. e~ .

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.