Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sponges, present participle sponging, past tense, past participle sponged
1. countable noun
Sponge is a very light soft substance with lots of little holes in it, which can be either artificial or natural. It is used to clean things or as a soft layer.
...a sponge mattress.
2. countable noun
A sponge is a sea animal with a soft round body made of natural sponge.
3. countable noun
A sponge is a piece of sponge that you use for washing yourself or for cleaning things.
He wiped off the table with a sponge.
4. verb
If you sponge something, you clean it by wiping it with a wet sponge.
Fill a bowl with water and gently sponge your face and body. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: swab, wipe, mop, clean More Synonyms of sponge
Sponge down means the same as sponge.
If your child's temperature rises, sponge her down gently with tepid water. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
5. variable noun
A sponge is a light cake or pudding made from flour, eggs, sugar, and sometimes fat.
It makes a superb filling for cakes and sponges.
6. verb
If you say that someone sponges off other people or sponges on them, you mean that they regularly get money from other people when they should betrying to support themselves.
[informal, disapproval]
He should just get an honest job and stop sponging off the rest of us! [V + off]
He spent his life grumbling about missed opportunities and sponging on his fatherfor money. [VERB + on]
sponge in British English
(spʌndʒ)
noun
1.
any multicellular typically marine animal of the phylum Porifera, usually occurring in complex sessile colonies in which the porous body is supported by a fibrous, calcareous, or siliceous skeletal framework
2.
a piece of the light porous highly absorbent elastic skeleton of certain sponges, used in bathing, cleaning, etc
See also spongin
3.
any of a number of light porous elastic materials resembling a sponge
4. another word for sponger (sense 1)
5. informal
a person who indulges in heavy drinking
6.
leavened dough, esp before kneading
7. short for sponge cake
8. Also called: sponge pudding British
a light steamed or baked pudding, spongy in texture, made with various flavourings or fruit
9.
porous metal produced by electrolysis or by reducing a metal compound without fusion or sintering and capable of absorbing large quantities of gas
platinum sponge
10.
a rub with a sponge
11. throw in the sponge
verb
12. (tr; often foll by off or down)
to clean (something) by wiping or rubbing with a damp or wet sponge
13. (tr; usually foll by off, away, out, etc)
to remove (marks, etc) by rubbing with a damp or wet sponge or cloth
14. (whentr, often foll by up)
to absorb (liquids, esp when spilt) in the manner of a sponge
15. (transitive; often foll byoff)
to get (something) from (someone) by presuming on his or her generosity
to sponge a meal off someone
16. (intr; often foll by off or on)
to obtain one's subsistence, welfare, etc, unjustifiably (from)
he sponges off his friends
17. (intransitive)
to go collecting sponges
Derived forms
spongelike (ˈspongeˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek
sponge in American English
(spʌndʒ)
noun
1.
any of a phylum (Porifera) of simple, aquatic, sessile animals having a porous structure and a tough, often siliceous or calcareous, skeleton
2.
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.
3.
any substance like this
; specif.,
a.
a piece of spongy plastic, cellulose, rubber, etc., used like natural sponge
b.
a pad of gauze or cotton, as used in surgery
c.
a light dessert made of whipped gelatin and beaten egg whites or whipped cream
d.
raised dough, as for bread
e.
any of several metals, as platinum, found in a porous mass
4.
a.
a person having a spongelike capacity, as for drink, knowledge, etc.
b. Informal
sponger (sense 3)
verb transitiveWord forms: sponged or ˈsponging
5.
to use a sponge on so as to dampen, wipe clean, etc.
6.
to remove or obliterate with or as with a damp sponge
usually with out, off, away, etc.
7.
to absorb with, as with, or like a sponge
often with up
8. Informal
to get without cost, as by begging, imposition, etc.
The correct consistency of the cake is a light sponge on top with a wet custard below.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
So blend a very light foundation on to your face using a damp sponge or foundation brush.
The Sun (2007)
Maybe a little comfort sponge pud afterwards?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We filled pots to cook pasta with and to heat up for sponge baths.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He thought it was amazing that it was taking you so long to pack a sponge bag.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Spread half the mascarpone cream on top of the sponge fingers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Leave it for a couple of days and then sponge clean.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Line the walls of a cake tin with sponge fingers.
Wild, Anthony The East India Company Book of Coffee (1994)
This will make the sponge nice and moist.
The Sun (2013)
He survived on a diet of custard and sponge cake.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Place the final layer of sponge on the top and dust with icing sugar.
The Sun (2015)
The cake should be a light sponge on top with a wet custard below.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
More than one billion germs can grow in a damp sponge after just one day of use.
The Sun (2014)
It was a childhood full of sponge baths and food queues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And what should you pack in your sponge bag?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Apply a thin layer with a brush on the long sides of the pink and plain sponge strips.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Spoon sponge mix between pudding basins.
The Sun (2010)
Then, the technology used to dive for natural sponges.
The Sun (2010)
He's like a sponge for knowledge.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their carer says they are like little sponges, soaking up love and attention.
The Sun (2011)
She adds: 'I only crave the natural sea sponges or the plain kitchen ones.
The Sun (2015)
When I was younger, my mum used to feed the pink and yellow sponge cake to me on a weekly basis.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
sponge
Types of invertebrate
In other languages
sponge
British English: sponge /spʌndʒ/ NOUN
for washing A sponge is a piece of sponge that you use for washing yourself or for cleaning things.
He wiped the table with a sponge.
American English: sponge for washing
Arabic: إسْفِنْجَة
Brazilian Portuguese: esponja
Chinese: 海绵
Croatian: spužva
Czech: houba na mytí
Danish: svamp
Dutch: spons
European Spanish: esponja
Finnish: pesusieni
French: éponge
German: Schwamm
Greek: σφουγγάρι
Italian: spugna
Japanese: スポンジ for washing
Korean: 스펀지
Norwegian: svamp
Polish: gąbka
European Portuguese: esponja
Romanian: burete
Russian: губка
Latin American Spanish: esponja
Swedish: tvättsvamp
Thai: ฟองน้ำ
Turkish: sünger banyo
Ukrainian: губка
Vietnamese: miếng bọt biển
British English: sponge /spʌndʒ/ NOUN
cake A sponge is a light cake or pudding made from flour, eggs, sugar, and sometimes fat.
...chocolate sponge cake.
American English: sponge cake cake
Arabic: كَعْكَةٌ إسْفِنْجِيَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: pão-de-ló
Chinese: 松软蛋糕
Croatian: biskvit
Czech: piškotový moučník
Danish: sukkerbrødskage
Dutch: gebak
European Spanish: bizcocho
Finnish: sokerikakku
French: génoise
German: Biskuit
Greek: μαλακό κέικ
Italian: pan di Spagna
Japanese: スポンジケーキ cake
Korean: 카스텔라
Norwegian: sukkerbrød
Polish: biszkopt
European Portuguese: pão-de-ló
Romanian: pandișpan
Russian: бисквит
Latin American Spanish: bizcocho
Swedish: sockerkaksbotten
Thai: เค้กที่ฟู
Turkish: pandispanya
Ukrainian: бісквіт
Vietnamese: bánh xốp
All related terms of 'sponge'
sponge bag
a small bag made of plastic, etc, that holds toiletries , used esp when travelling
sponge bath
a washing of the body with a wet sponge or cloth, but without immersion in water
sponge cake
A sponge cake is a very light cake made from flour, eggs, and sometimes fat.
sponge down
to wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth
sponge mop
a mop that makes use of a sponge as the cleaning part
sponge tree
huisache
wool sponge
any of several commercial sponges (genera Hippospongia and Euspongia ) with durable , soft, fibrous skeletons
boring sponge
any of a family (Clionidae) of sponges that settle on and dissolve the shells of clams
sponge cloth
any of various porous fabrics, usually made in a loose honeycomb weave
sponge finger
a ladyfinger
sponge rubber
rubber with a spongelike consistency
hardhead sponge
any of several coarse-fibered sponges from the Caribbean area
sponge pudding
a light steamed or baked pudding , spongy in texture , made with various flavourings or fruit
vegetable sponge
→ luffa (sense 2 )
spongebag
A spongebag is a small bag in which you keep things such as soap and a toothbrush when you are travelling.
spongecake
a light, spongy cake made of flour , eggs, sugar, etc., but no shortening
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
huisache
a thorny shrub or small tree of tropical or sub-tropical America, Acacia farnesia var farnesia , with clusters of fragrant yellow flower heads used in perfumery
Chinese translation of 'sponge'
sponge
(spʌndʒ)
n
(u) (substance man-made, natural) 海绵(綿) (hǎimián)
(c) (for washing) 海绵(綿)擦 (hǎimiáncā) (块(塊), kuài)
(c/u) (also sponge cake) 松糕 (sōnggāo)
vt
(= wipe) 用海绵(綿)擦 (yòng hǎimián cā)
vi
to sponge off or on sb (inf) 白吃白喝某人 (bái chī bái hē mǒurén)
(verb)
Definition
to clean (something) by rubbing it with a wet sponge
Gently sponge your face and body.
Synonyms
swab
wipe
She wiped her hands on the towel.
mop
There was a woman mopping the stairs.
clean
Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin.
It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath.
wash
He got a job washing dishes in a pizza parlour.
rinse
After washing always rinse the hair in clear water.
sluice
phrasal verb
See sponge off someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clean
Definition
to make or become free of dirt
Her father cleaned his glasses with a paper napkin.It took half an hour to clean the orange powder off the bath.
Synonyms
cleanse,
wash,
bath,
sweep,
dust,
wipe,
vacuum,
scrub,
sponge,
rinse,
mop,
launder,
scour,
purify,
do up,
swab,
disinfect,
lave,
deodorize,
sanitize,
deep clean
in the sense of mop
Definition
to clean or soak up with or as if with a mop
There was a woman mopping the stairs.
Synonyms
clean,
wash,
wipe,
sponge,
swab,
squeegee
in the sense of rinse
Definition
to wash lightly, esp. without using soap
After washing always rinse the hair in clear water.
Synonyms
wash,
clean,
wet,
dip,
splash,
cleanse,
bathe,
wash out
Nearby words of
sponge
spoken
spoken for
spokesperson
sponge
sponge off someone
sponger
spongy
Related terms of
sponge
sponge off someone
Synonyms of 'sponge'
sponge
Explore 'sponge' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wash
Definition
to clean (oneself, part of one's body, or a thing) with soap or detergent and water
He got a job washing dishes in a pizza parlour.
Synonyms
clean,
scrub,
sponge,
rinse,
scour,
cleanse
in the sense of wipe
Definition
to rub (a surface or object) lightly with a cloth or the hand, in order to remove dirt or liquid from it