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

Synonyms:

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

Synonyms:

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