Sponge Definition

spŭnj
sponged, sponges, sponging
noun
Any of a phylum (Porifera) of simple, aquatic, sessile animals having a porous structure and a tough, often siliceous or calcareous, skeleton.
Webster's New World
A piece of the absorbent skeleton of certain of these organisms, or a piece of plastic or another material that is similar in absorbency, used for cleaning, bathing, and other purposes.
American Heritage
The elastic skeleton, or a piece of the skeleton, of certain sponges, light in weight and highly absorbent, used for washing surfaces, in bathing, etc.
Webster's New World
Any substance like this.
Webster's New World
A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or the dressing of a wound.
American Heritage
verb
sponged, sponges, sponging
To use a sponge on so as to dampen, wipe clean, etc.
Webster's New World
To remove or obliterate with or as with a damp sponge.
Webster's New World
To take up liquid like a sponge.
Webster's New World
To gather sponges from the sea.
Webster's New World

To be a sponger.

Webster's New World
idiom
throw in the sponge
  • to admit defeat; give up: from the practice by a boxer's second of throwing a sponge into the ring to concede defeat
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Sponge

Noun

Singular:
sponge
Plural:
sponges

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Sponge

  • throw in the sponge

Origin of Sponge

  • Old English spunge, from Latin spongia, from Ancient Greek σπογγιά (spongia), related to σπόγγος (spongos).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English from Latin spongia from Greek spongiā from spongos

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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