sponge

S0658800 (spŭnj)n.1. a. Any of numerous aquatic, chiefly marine filter-feeding invertebrate animals of the phylum Porifera, characteristically having a porous skeleton composed of fibrous material or siliceous or calcareous spicules and often forming colonies attached to an underwater surface. Also called poriferan.b. A piece of the absorbent skeleton of certain of these organisms, or a piece of plastic or another material that is similar in absorbency, used for cleaning, bathing, and other purposes.2. Metal in a porous, brittle form, as after the removal of other metals in processing, used as a raw material in manufacturing.3. A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or the dressing of a wound.4. A small absorbent contraceptive pad that contains a spermicide and is placed against the cervix of the uterus before sexual intercourse.5. Dough that has been or is being leavened.6. A light cake, such as sponge cake.7. Informal One who habitually depends on others for one's own maintenance.8. Slang A person who drinks large amounts of alcohol. v. sponged, spong·ing, spong·es v.tr.1. To moisten, wipe, or clean with a sponge or cloth: sponge off the table.2. To remove or absorb with a sponge or cloth: sponge off the sweat; sponge up the mess.3. To apply or daub with a sponge: sponge paint on the wall.4. Informal To obtain free, as by begging or freeloading: sponge a meal.v.intr.1. To harvest sponges.2. Informal To obtain something such as food or money by relying on the generosity of others: sponged off her parents.

[Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek spongiā, from spongos.]

sponge

(spʌndʒ) n1. (Animals) 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 framework2. (Textiles) a piece of the light porous highly absorbent elastic skeleton of certain sponges, used in bathing, cleaning, etc. See also spongin3. (Textiles) any of a number of light porous elastic materials resembling a sponge4. another word for sponger¹5. (Brewing) informal a person who indulges in heavy drinking6. (Cookery) leavened dough, esp before kneading7. (Cookery) short for sponge cake8. (Cookery) Also called: sponge pudding Brit a light steamed or baked pudding, spongy in texture, made with various flavourings or fruit9. (Elements & Compounds) 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 sponge11. throw in the sponge See throw in⁴vb12. (tr; often foll by off or down) to clean (something) by wiping or rubbing with a damp or wet sponge13. (tr; usually foll by off, away, out, etc) to remove (marks, etc) by rubbing with a damp or wet sponge or cloth14. (when: tr, often foll by up) to absorb (liquids, esp when spilt) in the manner of a sponge15. (often foll by: off) to get (something) from (someone) by presuming on his 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. (Zoology) (intr) to go collecting sponges[Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek] ˈspongeˌlike adj

sponge

(spʌndʒ)

n., v. sponged, spong•ing. n. 1. any porous, aquatic, sessile animal of the phylum Porifera, having a fibrous siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton and lacking tissue organization. 2. the skeleton of certain sponges, readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness. 3. a piece of any of various absorbent materials, as a block of porous cellulose or a surgical gauze pad. 4. a person or thing that absorbs something freely. 5. a person who lives at the expense of others; sponger. 6. Informal. a drunkard. 7. a porous mass of metallic particles, as of platinum, obtained by the reduction of an oxide or purified compound at a temperature below the melting point. 8. a. yeast-raised bread dough, esp. before kneading. b. a light pudding made with gelatin, fruit juice, etc. 9. a disposable piece of polyurethane foam impregnated with a spermicide for insertion into the vagina as a contraceptive. v.t. 10. to wipe or rub with or as if with a wet sponge. 11. to wipe out or efface with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by out). 12. to take up or absorb with or as if with a sponge (often fol. by up). 13. to obtain by imposing on another's good nature. v.i. 14. to take in or soak up liquid by absorption. 15. to live at the expense of others (often fol. by on or off). 16. to gather sponges. [before 1000; (n.) Middle English, Old English < Latin spongia, spongea < Greek spongia] spong′er, n.

sponge

(spŭnj)1. Any of various primitive invertebrate animals that live in the ocean and are attached to rocks or other objects. Unlike other animals, sponges have bodies with only one type of tissue and no organs. The bodies have many passages and chambers that water flows through so that food can be filtered out.2. The soft, porous, absorbent skeleton of certain of these animals, used for bathing, cleaning, and other purposes.

sponge

loofah - Not a sponge but a dried tropical fruit used as a sponge.
sponge bath - An all-over washing of the body with a sponge or washcloth instead of taking a bath or shower.
bibulous - First meant "absorbent, like a sponge," and later figuratively meant "addicted to alcohol."
sponge - From Latin spongia, and Greek sphoggos, "water growth."

sponge

Past participle: sponged
Gerund: sponging

Imperative
sponge
sponge

Present
I sponge
you sponge
he/she/it sponges
we sponge
you sponge
they sponge

Preterite
I sponged
you sponged
he/she/it sponged
we sponged
you sponged
they sponged

Present Continuous
I am sponging
you are sponging
he/she/it is sponging
we are sponging
you are sponging
they are sponging

Present Perfect
I have sponged
you have sponged
he/she/it has sponged
we have sponged
you have sponged
they have sponged

Past Continuous
I was sponging
you were sponging
he/she/it was sponging
we were sponging
you were sponging
they were sponging

Past Perfect
I had sponged
you had sponged
he/she/it had sponged
we had sponged
you had sponged
they had sponged

Future
I will sponge
you will sponge
he/she/it will sponge
we will sponge
you will sponge
they will sponge

Future Perfect
I will have sponged
you will have sponged
he/she/it will have sponged
we will have sponged
you will have sponged
they will have sponged

Future Continuous
I will be sponging
you will be sponging
he/she/it will be sponging
we will be sponging
you will be sponging
they will be sponging

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been sponging
you have been sponging
he/she/it has been sponging
we have been sponging
you have been sponging
they have been sponging

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been sponging
you will have been sponging
he/she/it will have been sponging
we will have been sponging
you will have been sponging
they will have been sponging

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been sponging
you had been sponging
he/she/it had been sponging
we had been sponging
you had been sponging
they had been sponging

Conditional
I would sponge
you would sponge
he/she/it would sponge
we would sponge
you would sponge
they would sponge

Past Conditional
I would have sponged
you would have sponged
he/she/it would have sponged
we would have sponged
you would have sponged
they would have sponged

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	sponge - a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly usedabsorbent, absorbent material - a material having capacity or tendency to absorb another substance
	2.	sponge - someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily; "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge"quick studyassimilator, learner, scholar - someone (especially a child) who learns (as from a teacher) or takes up knowledge or beliefs
	3.	sponge - a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantageleech, parasite, spongerfollower - a person who accepts the leadership of another
	4.	sponge - primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile coloniesparazoan, poriferaninvertebrate - any animal lacking a backbone or notochord; the term is not used as a scientific classificationphylum Porifera, Porifera - coextensive with the subkingdom Parazoa: spongesglass sponge - a siliceous sponge (with glassy spicules) of the class Hyalospongiae
Verb	1.	sponge - wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moistenwipe, pass over - rub with a circular motion; "wipe the blackboard"; "He passed his hands over the soft cloth"
	2.	sponge - ask for and get free; be a parasitebum, cadge, grub, moochobtain - come into possession of; "How did you obtain the visa?"freeload - live off somebody's generosity; "This young man refuses to work and is freeloading"
	3.	sponge - erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboardrub out, score out, wipe off, erase, efface - remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing; "Please erase the formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!"
	4.	sponge - soak up with a spongemop, mop up, wipe up - to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop; "Mop the hallway now"; "He mopped her forehead with a towel"
	5.	sponge - gather sponges, in the oceangather, pull together, collect, garner - assemble or get together; "gather some stones"; "pull your thoughts together"

sponge

verb swab, wipe, mop, clean, wash, rinse, sluice Gently sponge your face and body.sponge off someone scrounge, cadge, freeload (slang), beg, bum (informal), touch (someone) for (slang), blag (slang), wheedle, sorn (Scot.), bludge (Austral. & N.Z. informal) He should just get an honest job and stop sponging off the rest of us!

sponge

noun1. One who depends on another for support without reciprocating:bloodsucker, hanger-on, leech, parasite.Slang: freeloader.2. Slang. A person who is habitually drunk:drunk, drunkard, inebriate, sot, tippler.Slang: boozehound, boozer, lush, rummy, soak, souse, stiff.verbInformal. To take advantage of the generosity of others:leech.Slang: freeload.

Translations

海绵用海棉擦洗用海绵揩拭依赖他人生活多孔布丁

sponge

(spandʒ) noun1. a type of sea animal, or its soft skeleton, which has many holes and is able to suck up and hold water. 海绵2. a piece of such a skeleton or a substitute, used for washing the body etc. （擦身用的）海绵 3. a sponge pudding or cake. We had jam sponge for dessert. 多孔布丁，松糕 4. an act of wiping etc with a sponge. Give the table a quick sponge over, will you? 用海棉擦洗（一下） verb1. to wipe or clean with a sponge. She sponged the child's face.用海绵揩拭2. to get a living, money etc (from someone else). He's been sponging off/on us for years.依赖他人生活ˈsponger noun a person who lives by sponging on others. 依赖他人生活者，寄生虫 ˈspongy adjective soft and springy or holding water like a sponge. spongy ground. 海绵状的，有吸水性的 ˈspongily adverb吸水地ˈsponginess noun吸水性sponge cake, sponge pudding (a) very light cake or pudding made from flour, eggs and sugar etc. 松糕，多孔布丁

sponge

→ 松软蛋糕zhCN, 海绵zhCN

sponge

sponge (something) off (of) (someone or something)

To beg for, borrow, or obtain something (usually money or food) as a handout from someone or something else. My brother's been sponging money off my parents ever since he dropped out of college. My roommate's nice, but she's always sponging food off of me, and I don't have the heart to tell her to stop.See also: off, sponge

throw in the sponge

To give up on some endeavor; to quit or abandon something; to admit defeat or failure. I've been working on this book for over a year, and I'm getting nowhere with it. I think I'm ready to throw in the sponge. After trying their hand in the mobile market for just a few years, the company is already throwing in the sponge after finding very little success.See also: sponge, throw

throw in the towel

To give up on some endeavor; to quit or abandon something; to admit defeat or failure. I've been working on this book for over a year, and I'm getting nowhere with it. I think I'm ready to throw in the towel. After trying their hand in the mobile market for just a few years, the company is already throwing in the towel after finding very little success.See also: throw, towel

sponge down

1. To wash, wipe, or moisten with or as with a sponge. I didn't have time to shower, so I just sponged down before heading home.2. To wash, wipe, or moisten someone or something with or as with a sponge. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sponge" and "down." There's a great photo of my parents sponging me down in the kitchen sink when I was a baby. Dad's making us sponge down the car because we drove it through the mud. The nurse sat by and sponged down the child's forehead to help keep the fever at bay.See also: down, sponge

sponge on (someone or something)

To take advantage of someone else's generosity, charity, or hospitality in order to obtain something, typically money or food, as a handout. My brother's been sponging on my parents ever since he dropped out of college. I hated being on welfare—even though I really needed it, I always felt like I was sponging on the governmentSee also: on, sponge

sponge away

1. To clean (some surface) vigorously or continuously with a sponge. I sat there sponging away at the concrete until all the markings were removed.2. To remove something by absorbing or wiping it with a sponge. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "sponge" and "away." Dad's out back sponging the graffiti away. The nurse sponged away the blood from the woman's shoulder.See also: away, sponge

sponge from (someone or something)

1. To wipe, mop up, or otherwise clean away something from some surface with or as with a sponge. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "sponge" and "from." I sat beside her bed, sponging the sweat from her feverish brow. Dad's out back sponging the graffiti from the wall.2. To obtain something, especially money or food, from another person, group, agency, country, etc., for free or without doing any work. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "sponge" and "from" to specify what is being obtained. The minute I had to go on social welfare, I felt like a bum who was sponging from the government. Tom's been sponging money from Mom and Dad for years. I don't know if he's ever held down a job for longer than a month at a time.See also: sponge

sponge up

To absorb or mop up some liquid with or as with a sponge. A noun or pronoun is used between "sponge" and "up." One of the worst jobs in the hospital is sponging up all the blood and other bodily gunk that ends up on the floors after surgeries and deliveries. You need to sponge that paint up straight away—if it gets dry, you'll never get it off the floor.See also: sponge, up

sponge someone or something down

to remove the [excess] moisture from someone or something; to wipe someone or something with a sponge. The fight manager sponged his boxer down. I will sponge down the countertop.See also: down, sponge

sponge something away

to absorb, wipe up, and wipe away something, as with a sponge. Try sponging the stain away with some soda water. I will sponge away the mess.See also: away, sponge

sponge something from someone

to beg or borrow money or food from someone. Gary tried to sponge a few bucks from me. I can't continue sponging food from my relatives.See also: sponge

sponge something from something

to remove moisture from something, as with a sponge. Liz sponged the sauce from her blouse. We gently sponged the splattered paint from the carpet.See also: sponge

sponge something off of someone or something

and sponge something offto beg or borrow money or food from someone or a group. Please stop sponging food and money off your relatives! Stop sponging off food and money all the time!See also: of, off, sponge

sponge something up

to absorb or take up moisture, as with a sponge. I had to sponge the spilled milk up from the floor, the chair, the table, and the baby. What a mess! Liz sponged up the water.See also: sponge, up

throw in the towel

and throw in the sponge; toss in the spongeFig. (From boxing, where this is done by a boxer's trainer to stop the fight.) to signal that one is going to quit; to quit. When John could stand no more of Mary's bad temper, he threw in the towel and left. Don't give up now! It's too soon to throw in the sponge.See also: throw, towel

sponge on

Also, sponge off. Impose on another's hospitality or generosity, as in He's been sponging on relatives for the past year. This expression uses sponge in the sense of "to soak up something." [Late 1600s] See also: on, sponge

throw in the sponge

Also, throw in the towel. Give up, acknowledge defeat, as in I can't move this rock; I'm throwing in the sponge, or Bill decided to throw in the towel and resign from his job. This idiom comes from boxing, where formerly a fighter (or his second) conceded defeat by throwing the sponge or towel used to wipe his face into the ring. [c. 1900] See also: sponge, throw

throw in the towel

COMMON If you throw in the towel, you stop trying to do something, because you know that you cannot succeed. Klara's support, when even her son's trainers wanted to throw in the towel, was crucial. Note: Verbs such as chuck and toss are sometimes used instead of throw. One day I will be brave enough (or fed up enough) to chuck in the towel and start again. Note: You can also say that someone throws in the sponge. You're not the kind of man who throws in the sponge. You're a fighter and it's your fighting spirit which is going to save you. Note: In boxing, a fighter's trainer sometimes throws a towel or sponge into the ring as a signal of defeat in order to stop the fight before there are any more injuries. See also: throw, towel

throw in the towel (or sponge)

abandon a struggle; admit defeat. Boxers or their trainers traditionally signal defeat by throwing the towel or sponge used to wipe a contestant's face into the middle of the ring.See also: throw, towel

throw in the ˈtowel/ˈsponge

(informal) stop doing something because you know that you cannot succeed; admit defeat: It’s a bit early to throw in the towel — you’ve only just started the job.This idiom comes from boxing: throwing in the towel or sponge is a sign that a fighter accepts defeat.See also: sponge, throw, towel

sponge down

v. To moisten or wipe the surface of someone or something with or as if with a sponge: The artist sponged down the canvas with primer before starting the painting. I had a high fever, so the nurse sponged my forehead down.See also: down, sponge

sponge off

v.1. To wipe or clean the surface of someone or something with or as if with a sponge: After dinner, I cleared all the dishes and sponged off the table. The blackboard was very dirty, so the teacher told me to sponge it off.2. To live by relying on the generosity of someone else: He sponged off his parents for years because they never insisted that he get a job.See also: off, sponge

sponge

and spunge1. in. to drink heavily. She was sponging like there was no tomorrow. 2. n. a drunkard; a tippler. (see also blotter.) She was a spunge, and she wasn’t going to do anything about it. 3. n. a parasitic person. Here comes that sponge, Willy. Hide your wallet, pencils, glasses, and any clothes in his size.

sponge off someone

in. to live off someone; to take advantage of someone by taking food and shelter from them without compensation. Go get a job! Stop sponging off me! See also: off, someone, sponge

sponged

mod. thirsty. I gotta get a drink, man. I’m sponged! See also: sponge

throw in the towel

and throw in the sponge and toss in the sponge tv. to quit; to give up. (From boxing, where a towel or sponge thrown into the ring indicates that a boxer has given up.) The candidate who was exposed by the press as a former pickpocket tossed in the sponge in a tearful press conference. I’m done! I’m tossing in the sponge! See also: throw, towel

throw in the sponge

verbSee throw in the towelSee also: sponge, throw

toss in the sponge

verbSee throw in the towelSee also: sponge, toss

throw in the sponge/towel, to

To acknowledge defeat; to give up. J. C. Hotten’s Slang Dictionary of 1860 explained that this term comes from prizefighting, where throwing up the sponge used to clean the contender’s face was a signal that the “mill,” or round, was concluded. However, Hotten got it wrong; the sponge (or later, towel) more often was thrown up as a signal of defeat, and it is in this sense that the expression was transferred to other enterprises. “If ever you are tempted to say . . . ‘I am beaten and I throw up the sponge,’ remember Paul’s wise exhortation,” wrote Alexander Maclaren (Philippians, 1909). Later up was changed to in, at least in North America.See also: sponge, throw

throw in the towel

To quit. A prizefighter's sidemen use sponges to clean his face of sweat and blood. To toss the sponge into the ring during a fight signaled that the boxer had had enough—and so the sponge was no longer needed. In recent years, towels have been substituted for sponges in boxing matches, and consequently, in the expression too.See also: throw, towel

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

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sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge (something) off (of) (someone or something)

throw in the sponge

throw in the towel

sponge down

sponge on (someone or something)

sponge away

sponge from (someone or something)

sponge up

sponge someone or something down

sponge something away

sponge something from someone

sponge something from something

sponge something off of someone or something

sponge something up

throw in the towel

sponge on

throw in the sponge

throw in the towel

throw in the towel (or sponge)

throw in the ˈtowel/ˈsponge

sponge down

sponge off

sponge

sponge off someone

sponged

throw in the towel

throw in the sponge

toss in the sponge

throw in the sponge/towel, to

throw in the towel

sponge

sponge,

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

sponge

abdominal sponge

contraceptive sponge

gauze sponge

gelatin sponge

spermicidal sponge

sponge

SPONGE

sponge

Synonyms for sponge

verb swab

Synonyms

phrase sponge off someone

Synonyms

Synonyms for sponge

noun one who depends on another for support without reciprocating

Synonyms

noun a person who is habitually drunk

Synonyms

verb to take advantage of the generosity of others

Synonyms

Synonyms for sponge

noun a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used

Related Words

noun someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily

Synonyms

Related Words