n.

1. （海中动物）海绵[C]
   Sponges can grow to a very considerable size.

   海绵可以长得非常大。

2. （用于洗碗碟或洗澡的）海绵；海绵状物[C][U]
   Wipe the surface with a clean sponge.

   用干净海绵擦拭表面。

3. 消毒纱布，药棉[C][U]
4. 发了酵的面团；【英】松糕[C][U]
5. 【口】吃闲饭的人，食客，寄生虫[C]
6. 用海绵揩拭[S]
   Give the table a quick sponge, will you?

   你快把桌子揩拭一遍好吗？

vt.

1. （用海绵或湿布）揩拭，吸取，抹掉[（+down/off/out/up）]
   The nurse sponged the wound with an antiseptic.

   护士用纱布蘸了消毒水洗伤口。

2. 【口】讨得，骗得
   He sponges all his lunches.

   他中餐总是白吃别人的。

3. 海绵般地吸收[（+up）]
   She sponged up the spilt milk.

   她用海绵将泼出的牛奶吸干了。

vi.

1. 采集海绵
2. 被用海绵擦去（或吸掉）[（+away/off/out）]
   Will this mark sponge off?

   这污渍能用海绵擦洗掉吗？

3. 海绵般地吸收
4. 当食客，过寄生生活[（+on/off）]
   That lazybones has been sponging off his brother for years.

   那个懒汉多年来一直靠兄弟养活他。

n.

1. a sedentary aquatic invertebrate with a soft porous body supported by a framework of fibres or spicules. [Phylum Porifera.]
2. a piece of a soft, light, porous absorbent substance originally consisting of the fibrous skeleton of a sponge but now usually made of synthetic material, used for washing, as padding, etc.
   ▸a piece of sponge impregnated with spermicide and inserted into a woman's vagina as a form of barrier contraceptive.
3. Brit. a very light cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour but little or no fat.
4. informal a person who lives at someone else's expense.
5. informal a heavy drinker.
6. metal in a porous form.

v.

1. wipe or clean with a wet sponge or cloth.
2. (often sponge off) informal obtain money or food from others without giving anything in return.
3. give a decorative effect to (a wall or surface) by applying paint with a sponge.
   ▸decorate (pottery) using a sponge.