Definition of Sponge
Sponge
sponge
Definition/Meaning
(noun)
a porous substance, usually made of light synthetic materials, capable of absorbing a lot of liquid and thus used for cleaning and scrubbing, or the action or instance of wiping something with such a substance;
e.g. He used a sponge to scrub the burnt food off the pan. She gave the mirror a quick sponge to remove the smudges.
(noun)
a primitive non-motile animal that lives in seas and oceans, characterized by a soft and porous body;
e.g. The fish were gathered around a sponge at the bottom of the aquarium tank.
(noun)
(British) a soft cake with a light texture;
e.g. She removed the sponge from the oven and let it cook on the table.
(noun)
(informal, derogatory) a person who uses others and relies on their expenses to live;
e.g. She ordered him to stop being a sponge and made him get a job.
(verb)
to use an absorbent material (like a sponge) to clean or wipe something or remove a liquid;
e.g. We need to sponge the counters to clean them. He tried to sponge up the spilled water.
(verb)
(informal) to accept something such as food, money, or favors from someone without doing or giving anything in return or intending to repay them;
e.g. They tried to sponge off their hosts, but they were eventually asked to leave if they wouldn't share expenses.
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