Sponge Meaning
/spʌnd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.
nounA piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).
Sentence Examples
Please sponge the mess up off the table.
A sponge absorbs water.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many people use a soft natural ____ harvested from the ocean for bathing.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I used a large ____ to soak up the water that had spilled all over the kitchen floor this morning.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English sponge, from Old English spunge, taken from Latin spongia, from Ancient Greek σπογγιά (spongiá), from σπόγγος (spóngos).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"For this reason, we need to think of our children as sponges of information and watch their sources carefully. We also need to always model appropriate behaviour, as we are a constant source of new information."
— 2014, Phoeve Hutchison, Are You Listening? Life Is Talking to You!, page 145:
"The great guns ranged along the deck — each bound fast by its new breechings — with their linstocks and sponges and ladles and rammers, made no idle show of warlike strength."
— 1923, Charles Boardman Hawes, The Dark Frigate, Chapter 6:
"The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that spunges upon other Peoples Trenchers."
— 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
"You can’t go on spunging upon the women."
— 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 32, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many people use a soft natural ____ harvested from the ocean for bathing.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I used a large ____ to soak up the water that had spilled all over the kitchen floor this morning.