Sponge

Definitions

1. Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.
   countable
2. A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).
   countable
3. The porous material that synthetic washing sponges are made of.
   uncountable
4. A heavy drinker.
   countable, informal, uncountable
5. A type of light cake.
   countable, uncountable
6. A type of steamed pudding.
   British, countable, uncountable
7. A person who takes advantage of the generosity of others (abstractly imagined to absorb or soak up the money or efforts of others like a sponge).
   countable, slang, uncountable
8. A person who readily absorbs ideas.
   countable, uncountable
9. A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.
   countable
10. Any sponge-like substance.
    countable, uncountable
11. Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven.
    countable, uncountable
12. Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
    countable, uncountable
13. Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
    countable, uncountable
14. A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.
    countable, uncountable
15. The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.
    countable, uncountable
16. A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.
    countable, slang, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.”

“For this reason⟳, we need⟳ to think⟳ of our children as sponges of information and watch⟳ their sources carefully. We also need⟳ to always model⟳ appropriate behaviour, as we are a constant source of new information.”

“The great guns ranged along the deck — each bound fast by its new breechings — with their linstocks and sponges and ladles and rammers, made no idle show⟳ of warlike strength.”

CEFR level