WordWeb Online

1. A piece of soft and porous absorbent material used for washing, absorbing liquids, etc.
   "get a sponge to wipe off the liquid"
    
2. Primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies
   - poriferan, parazoan
    
3. Someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily
   "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge";
   - quick study
    
4. [informal] A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
   - leech, parasite, sponger, bloodsucker [informal]
    
5. [informal] A person who drinks alcoholic beverages (especially to excess)
   - drinker, imbiber, toper, juicer, soak [informal]

1. Wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
    
2. [informal] Ask for and get free; be a parasite
   - mooch [N. Amer, informal], bum [informal], cadge [informal], grub [informal], bludge [Austral, NZ, informal], sponge off [informal]
    
3. Erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard
    
4. Soak up with a sponge
    
5. Gather sponges, in the ocean

Derived forms: sponged, sponging, sponges

Type of: absorbent, absorbent material, acolyte, assimilator, collect, consumer, efface, erase, follower, garner, gather, invertebrate, learner, mop, mop up, obtain, pass over, pull together, rub out, scholar, score out, student, wipe, wipe off, wipe up

Part of: phylum Porifera, Porifera

Encyclopedia: Sponge