Dictionary.net

a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies

gather sponges, in the ocean

wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten

soak up with a sponge

erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard

someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily; "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge"

a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies

gather sponges, in the ocean

wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten

soak up with a sponge

erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard

Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.

The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongiae (keratosa), used for many purposes, especially the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.

One who lives upon others; a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.

Any spongelike substance.

Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven.

Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.

Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.

A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.

The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.

To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.

To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.

Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition.

Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast.

To suck in, or imbile, as a sponge.

Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor.

To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.

The phylum of sponges, the most primitive of multicellular animals. Their body is perforated with many pores to admit water, through which food is strained. All sponges are sessile and exhibit little detectable movement. Most are hermaphroditic. They are probably an early evolutionary side branch that gave rise to no other group of animals. Except for about 150 freshwater species, sponges are marine animals. They are a source of alkaloids, sterols and other natural products useful in medicine and biological research. (Dorland, 27th ed; from Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, p71)

The porous, elastic skeleton of certain salt-water animals; the animal producing it; any substance resembling sponge, as raised dough; a mop for cleansing a gun after its discharge; a parasite, or one who lives upon others.

To suck in like a sponge; live upon others.

To cleanse, wipe out, or dampen, with a sponge; obtain by mean methods without cost.

Sponger.

1. The fibrous skeleton of an aquatic organism from which all cellular matter has been removed; employed in surgery for mopping away blood and other fluids during an operation; now usually replaced by 2. Any absorbent material, such as gauze or prepared cotton, used in lieu of a sponge in surgical operations. 3 Any material having a sponge like texture, such as iron sponge, used in the purification of water.

Highly absorbent, pliable, framework of as aquatic animal.

The porous framework of an animal, found attached to rocks, etc., under water, remarkable for its power of sucking up water: an instrument for cleaning cannon after a discharge: the heel of a horse's shoe.

To wipe with a sponge: to wipe out with a sponge: to wipe out completely: to destroy.

To suck in, as a sponge: to gain by mean tricks.

Porous frame work of a marine animal; instrument for cleaning cannon after firing; any porous substance.

To live as a parasite or hanger-on.

To wipe with a sponge.

To get at another's expense.

To depend meanly on another.

A fixed marine animal with porous body or its skeleton of elastic fibers.

Leavened dough.

One who lives at the expense of another.

A porous substance of animal formation found adhering to rocks, &c., in water, remarkable for its imbibing properties; an instrument for cleaning cannon after a discharge; the extremity or point of a horse-shoe; a sponger; something like a sponge, as a mass of bread pulp under fermeutation.

To wipe with a sponge; to wipe out or cleanse with a sponge; to wipe out completely.

To suck in, as a sponge; to hang on others for maintenance.

A well-known porous substance much used for domestic purposes, being the skeleton of marine protozoa; a soft sponge-like substance for cleaning and wiping, &c.; one who pertinaciously lives upon others; bakers dough before it is finally kneaded and shaped to be baked into bread.

To wipe or cleanse with a sponge; to wipe out completely; to imbibe or suck in; to gain by mean arts; to harass by extortion.

Elastic fibrous skeleton of Euspongia officinalis: used mainly as an absorbent.

n. [Latin, Greek] A fibrous substance regarded as of the nature of a compound animal, found adhering to rocks, shells, &c., under water-it is so porous as to imbibe a great quantity of water, and is used for various purposes in the arts and in surgery ; - one who lives upon others ; a sponger;-any sponge-like substance; especially, dough before it is kneaded and formed ;-an instrument for cleaning cannon after a discharge.