sponge1 nounsponge2 verb
spongesponge1 /spʌndʒ/ ●●○ noun 
Word OriginWORD ORIGINsponge1
ExamplesOrigin:
1000-1100 Latin spongia, from GreekEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- As promised, I will not explain my change within the Fluval 2, using a Polyfilter to replace the sponge.
- I felt like a sponge full of unshed tears.
- She picked up a sponge and began cleaning the edges of the sink.
- They leave reality to the grunts, who face bullets from AK-47s, not flying sponges.
- Use a sponge to clean up the excess water.
WORD SETS► Animals
Collocationsaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a sponge/toilet bag
Phrases (=for carrying your soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc)· I left my sponge bag in the hotel bathroom.
► a sponge cake (=one made from flour, butter, sugar, and eggs)· It’s best to eat sponge cakes on the day you make them.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► bag· Numerous sponge bags hung on pegs, some with rubber ducks poking out!· When that final whistle went I just wanted to throw up in the sponge bag.· She took her sponge bag into the bathroom, expecting something primitive, and paused, surprised yet again.· It's like being zipped into a sponge bag - yuck.· He had a quick look in Dale's sponge bag.
► cake· Foodstuff varies from fried egg and chips to sausage rolls and sponge cakes.· Brush the glaze while still hot over a fruit cake, but allow to cool slightly before spreading over a sponge cake.· It was rising like a sponge cake.· Both are light sponge cakes with jam and vanilla filling, decorated with soft fondant icing.· Desmond's wife brought them tea and a sponge cake that was still warm.· Card magic cake Buy some regular sponge cake from a local store.· They lay within the cracked rocks like the jam in a crazy sponge cake.· Use the following techniques for lining tins for quick and madeira sponge cakes, and for fruit cakes.
► pudding· O'Lone had memories of meat pies and new potatoes, followed by sponge pudding.
VERB► throw· She threw the sponge at the taps in disgust, and registered the peal of the doorbell at the same time.· When that final whistle went I just wanted to throw up in the sponge bag.· What a cop-out it would be to throw in the sponge now.· It has thrown in the sponge ... The flood shines like Occam's razor.
► use· You can use undergravel, or sponge filtration.· Continue to add water until it begins to run over the edge. Use a sponge to clean up the excess water.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► throw in the sponge/towel
1- A good 4-5 season sleeping bag is a must for anyone who doesn't throw in the towel the minute October dawns.
- But utility developers shouldn't throw in the towel just yet.
- By midnight, its masters had thrown in the towel, and put out the computer's original forecast.
- If they start to see prices run up, they might throw in the towel.
- It finally threw in the towel when the Prudential, the last remaining bidder, pulled out earlier this month.
- Some local manufacturers have simply thrown in the towel.
- You want to run because you never want to throw in the towel.
[countable, uncountable] a piece of a soft natural or artificial substance full of small holes, which can suck up liquid and is used for washing2[countable] a simple sea creature from which natural sponge is produced3[singular] British English an act of washing something with a sponge4[countable, uncountable] British English a light cake made from flour, sugar, butter, and eggs: 
a Victoria sponge5[countable] a spongersponge1 nounsponge2 verb
spongesponge2 verb Verb TableVERB TABLE
sponge
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | sponge |
| he, she, it | sponges | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | sponged |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have sponged |
| he, she, it | has sponged | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had sponged |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will sponge |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have sponged |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am sponging |
| he, she, it | is sponging | |
| you, we, they | are sponging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was sponging |
| you, we, they | were sponging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been sponging |
| he, she, it | has been sponging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been sponging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be sponging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been sponging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Collocations- When I opened my eyes, Polly was sponging my face and neck.
- Even the sounds here were dry and brittle; she longed for sounds that were sponged up by green moss.
- It happened that some flakes of fire had entered the muzzle of one of the guns after it was sponged.
- Jazzbeaux stepped under the shower, and sponged her wounds.
- These areas can also be sponged with warm water if necessary.
- They did it together, soaping, sponging, laughing with the warm sudsy water sensuous against them.
- Victoria's mucky bib came off her flower-sprigged Viyella dress and the chocolate pudding was sponged from her face.
- Wearily, she sponged her torso and stomach, cleaning her wounds.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a sponge/toilet bag
Phrases (=for carrying your soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc)· I left my sponge bag in the hotel bathroom.
► a sponge cake (=one made from flour, butter, sugar, and eggs)· It’s best to eat sponge cakes on the day you make them.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► off· Later, I helped her sponge off the caked blood.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► throw in the sponge/towel
1 (also sponge down) [transitive] to wash something with a wet cloth or sponge: - A good 4-5 season sleeping bag is a must for anyone who doesn't throw in the towel the minute October dawns.
- But utility developers shouldn't throw in the towel just yet.
- By midnight, its masters had thrown in the towel, and put out the computer's original forecast.
- If they start to see prices run up, they might throw in the towel.
- It finally threw in the towel when the Prudential, the last remaining bidder, pulled out earlier this month.
- Some local manufacturers have simply thrown in the towel.
- You want to run because you never want to throw in the towel.
Clean the rug by sponging it gently. She stood on the bath mat and sponged herself down.2[intransitive] informal to get money, free meals etc from other people, without doing anything for them – used to show disapprovalsponge off/on These people are just sponging off the taxpayers.3[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove liquid or a mark with a wet cloth or spongesponge something off (something) I’ll go and sponge this juice off my dress.4[transitive] to put paint on a surface using a spongesponge something on (something) Just sponge the paint on, like this.