sponges

Noun

sponge (countable and uncountable, plural sponges)

1. (countable) Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.

   Synonyms:

   sea sponge, bath sponge, poriferan, porifer

2. (countable) A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).
   • She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad

   Synonyms:

   bath sponge

3. (uncountable) The porous material that synthetic washing sponges are made of.
4. (informal) A heavy drinker.

   Synonyms:

   souse, swill-pot, alco, alcoholic, alkie, bacchanal, bacchant, barfly, bibber, booze artist

5. A type of light cake.
   • After six hours of work I got this amazing sponge with fresh strawberries, crème fraîche, crème chantilly, custard, crumble and meringues, something quite rich and outstanding.2021 June 10, Marianna Giusti, “Kean Etro: ‘We basically turned paper into trees’”, in Financial Times, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Jun 2021

   Synonyms:

   sponge cake

6. (UK) A type of steamed pudding.

   Synonyms:

   sponge pudding

See all 23 meanings of sponge