"sponges" in the noun sense

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 used

2. quick study, sponge

someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily

"she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge"

3. leech, parasite, sponge, sponger

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

4. sponge, poriferan, parazoan

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

"sponges" in the verb sense

1. sponge

wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten

2. mooch, bum, cadge, grub, sponge

ask for and get free be a parasite

3. sponge

erase with a sponge as of words on a blackboard

4. sponge

soak up with a sponge

5. sponge

gather sponges, in the ocean

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

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