sponge

[[t]spʌndʒ[/t]]

n. v. sponged, spong•ing

1) ivt any porous, aquatic, sessile animal of the phylum Porifera, having a fibrous siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton and lacking tissue organization

2) the skeleton of certain sponges, readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness

3) srg a piece of any of various absorbent materials, as a block of porous cellulose or a surgical gauze pad

4) a person or thing that absorbs something freely

5) a person who lives at the expense of others; sponger

6) inf Informal. a drunkard

7) mel a porous mass of metallic particles, as of platinum, obtained by the reduction of an oxide or purified compound at a temperature below the melting point

8) coo

a) yeast-raised bread dough, esp. before kneading

b) a light pudding made with gelatin, fruit juice, etc

9) med a disposable piece of polyurethane foam impregnated with a spermicide for insertion into the vagina as a contraceptive

10) to wipe or rub with or as if with a wet sponge

11) to wipe out or efface with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by out)

12) to take up or absorb with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by up)

13) to obtain by imposing on another's good nature

14) to take in or soak up liquid by absorption

15) to live at the expense of others (often fol. by on or off)

16) to gather sponges

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Etymology: bef. 1000; (n.) ME, OE < L spongia, spongea < Gk spongia spong′er, n.