Definition of Sponge

Babylon English
sponge
v. clean with a sponge; wipe with a sponge; absorb liquid; exploit, live at the expense of others
n. aquatic animal with a porous outer body and a rigid or elastic skeleton; skeleton of a sponge; piece of flexible and absorbent plastic or rubber used for cleaning; one or that which absorbs; sponger

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Sponge definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(2)  Language, Idioms & Slang(5)  Religion & Spirituality(2)  Encyclopedia(1)  

Sponge Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries

FOLDOC
sponge
A special case of a Unix filter that reads its entire input before writing any output; the canonical example is a sort utility. Unlike most filters, a sponge can conveniently overwrite the input file with the output data stream. If a file system has file versioning (as ITS did and VMS does now) the sponge/filter distinction loses its usefulness, because directing filter output would just write a new version.
See also slurp.
[Jargon File]
(1995-01-18)

Jargon File
sponge
n. [Unix] A special case of a filter that reads its entire input before writing any output; the canonical example is a sort utility. Unlike most filters, a sponge can conveniently overwrite the input file with the output data stream. If a file system has versioning (as ITS did and VMS does now) the sponge/filter distinction loses its usefulness, because directing filter output would just write a new version. See also slurp.


Sponge Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Sponge
(v. t.)
To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.
  
(v. t.)
To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.
  
(v. t.)
Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast.
  
(v. t.)
Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition.
  
(v. i.)
To suck in, or imbile, as a sponge.
  
(v. i.)
To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.
  
(v. i.)
Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor.
  
(n.)
The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.
  
(n.)
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.
  
(n.)
One who lives upon others; a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
  
(n.)
Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
  
(n.)
Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
  
(n.)
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.
  
(n.)
Any spongelike substance.
  
(n.)
Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
  
(n.)
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.
  

WordNet 2.0
sponge

Noun
1. a porous mass of interlacing fibers the forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used
(hypernym) absorbent material, absorbent
2. someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily; "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge"
(synonym) quick study
(hypernym) learner, scholar, assimilator
3. a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
(synonym) leech, parasite, sponger
(hypernym) follower
(derivation) mooch, bum, cadge, grub
4. primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies
(synonym) poriferan, parazoan
(hypernym) invertebrate
(hyponym) glass sponge
(member-holonym) Porifera, phylum Porifera

Verb
1. wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
(hypernym) wipe, pass over
2. ask for and get free; be a parasite
(synonym) mooch, bum, cadge, grub
(hypernym) obtain
(hyponym) freeload
(derivation) leech, parasite, sponger
3. erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard
(hypernym) erase, rub out, score out, efface, wipe off
4. soak up with a sponge
(hypernym) wipe up, mop up, mop
5. gather sponges, in the ocean
(hypernym) gather, garner, collect, pull together
(derivation) poriferan, parazoan

Australian Slang
Throw in the sponge
give in; accept defeat

hEnglish - advanced version
sponge

sponge
\sponge\ (?), n. [of. esponge, f. éponge, l. spongia, gr. &?;, &?;. cf. fungus, spunk.] [formerly written also spunge.]
1. (zo?l.) any one of numerous species of spongi?, or porifera. see illust. and note under spongi?.
2. the elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny spongi? (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.
3. fig.: one who lives upon others; a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
4. any spongelike substance. specifically: (a) 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. (b) iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition. (c) iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
5. (gun.) 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.
6. (far.) the extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.


  similar words(26) 




 sponge lead 
 loufah sponge 
 turkish sponge 
 glove sponge 
 chuck up the sponge 
 grass sponge 
 sponge gourd 
 bath sponge 
 sponge cake 
 toilet sponge 
 turkey sponge 
 sponge tree 
 velvet sponge 
 cup sponge 
 yellow sponge 
 vegetable sponge 
 finger sponge 
 to throw up the sponge 
 glass sponge 
 to set a sponge 
 egyptian bath sponge 
 pyrotechnical sponge 
 glass-sponge 
 vitreous sponge 
 horse sponge 
 platinum sponge 

JM Welsh <=> English Dictionary
Yspwng
Yspwng = n. light tuft; sponge


Sponge Definition from Religion & Spirituality Dictionaries & Glossaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Sponge
occurs only in the narrative of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29). It is ranked as a zoophyte. It is found attached to rocks at the bottom of the sea.

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Sponge

a soft, porous marine substance. Sponges were for a long time supposed to be plants, but are now considered by the best naturalists to belong to the animal kingdom. Sponge is mentioned only in the New Testament. (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29) The commercial value of the sponge was known from very early times; and although there appears to be no notice of it in the Old Testament, yet it is probable that it was used by the ancient Hebrews, who could readily have obtained it good from the Mediterranean, where it was principally found.
  


Sponge Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries

Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia
Sponge
The sponges or poriferans (from Latin  "pore" and "to bear") are animals of the phylum Porifera. Porifera translates to "Pore-bearer". They are primitive, sessile, mostly marine, water dwelling, filter feeders that pump water through their bodies to filter out particles of food matter. Sponges also excrete sperm cells through these holes. Sponges represent the simplest of animals. With no true tissues (parazoa), they lack musclesnerves, and internal organs. Their similarity to colonial choanoflagellates shows the probable evolutionary jump from unicellular to multicellular organisms. There are over 5,000 modern species of sponges known, and they can be found attached to surfaces anywhere from the intertidal zone to as deep as 8,500 m (29,000 feet) or further. Though the fossil record of sponges dates back to the Neoproterozoic Era, new species are still commonly discovered.

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