an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibres that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and is able when wetted to absorb water

any of a phylum of aquatic lower invertebrate animals that lives in are essentially double-walled cell colonies, and permanently attached to underwater objects as adults: phylum Porifera

a sponge cake or sponge pudding

a metal, e.g. platinum, in the form of a porous solid composed of fine particles

informal a sponger

informal a heavy drinker

I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge — Shakespeare

(often + down/off) to cleanse, wipe, or moisten (something) with a sponge, or as if with a sponge

(often + out) to erase or destroy (something) with a sponge, or as if with a sponge

Whole paragraphs had been sponged out

informal to obtain (e.g. money) by sponging on another

She tried to sponge the price of a coffee

to decorate (e.g. a wall) using paint on a sponge

informal (often + on/off) to obtain esp money financial assistance by exploiting people's natural generosity or organized welfare facilities

He wasn't going to sponge off the state for ever