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   sponge

   /spʌn(d)ʒ/

   noun

   • 1. a primitive sedentary aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body that is typically supported by a framework of fibres or calcareous or glassy spicules. Sponges draw in a current of water to extract nutrients and oxygen.
   • 2. a piece of a soft, light, porous absorbent substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of an aquatic invertebrate but now usually made of synthetic material, used for washing and cleaning.
   • ▪ an act of wiping or cleaning with a sponge: "they gave him a quick sponge down"
   • ▪ a soft, light, porous substance used as padding or insulating material: "the headguard is padded with sponge"
   • ▪ a barrier contraceptive in the form of a piece of soft, light, porous material impregnated with spermicide and inserted into a woman's vagina.
   • ▪ metal in a porous form, typically prepared by reduction without fusion or by electrolysis: "platinum sponge"
   • 3. a light cake made by beating eggs with sugar, flour, and usually butter or other fat: British "a chocolate sponge"
   • ▪ short for sponge pudding
   • 4. a person who lives at someone else's expense. informal, derogatory
   • 5. a heavy drinker. informal

   verb

   • 1. wipe or clean with a wet sponge or cloth: "she sponged him down in an attempt to cool his fever"
   • ▪ remove or wipe away (liquid or a mark) with a sponge or cloth: "I'll go and sponge this orange juice off my dress"
   • ▪ give a decorative effect to (a painted surface) by applying a different shade of paint with a sponge: "she repainted the walls white, then sponged them in turquoise, green, and lilac"
   • ▪ decorate (pottery) using a sponge.
   • 2. obtain or accept money or food from other people without doing or intending to do anything in return: informal "they found they could earn a perfectly good living by sponging off others"
   • ▪ obtain (money or food) from someone without doing anything in return: "he edged closer, clearly intending to sponge money from her"

   Word Origin Old English (in sponge (sense 2 of the noun)), via Latin from Greek spongia, later form of spongos, reinforced in Middle English by Old French esponge.

   Derivatives

   • 1. spongeable adjective
   • 2. sponge-like adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

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