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to sponge

to sponge

7.7
To collect soft sea animals with many holes for sale
  • verb
  • /spʌndʒ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : recolectar esponjas marinas
  • Local divers will sponge for sponges every summer to support their families.

Examples

  • The team traveled to the coast to sponge for fresh sponges to sell at their shop.

  • After training, the students planned to sponge at established fishing grounds for sponges.

  • MAP: Figure 2. Florida Bay and Keys sponge fishing grounds.

    Academic text (1998)

Idioms

To stop trying because it seems pointless

Phrasal Verbs

to sponge down
  • Informal
1 3.7

Clean a person or surface by rubbing with a wet cloth

1 3.7

To take liquid from a surface using something like a cloth

To rub a surface with a wet sponge to clean it

To put liquid or paint on a surface using a sponge

To remove liquid from a surface by wiping it with a cloth

Compounds

15 3.2

Washing the body with a wet cloth without using a shower or bath

7 1.8

A light, airy cake that uses eggs, flour and sugar without butter or oil

1 6.3

A natural pad of dried plant fibers from a luffa fruit used for washing skin or dishes

fun sponge
  • Offensive
7.8

A person who stops others from having fun by complaining

A rich sponge cake often served with a glass of wine

glass sponge
  • Specialized
8.8

A sea animal with a skeleton of thin glass-like threads that lives on the ocean floor

sponge filter
  • Specialized
3.0

A soft sponge in a fish tank that traps dirt and adds air while letting good bacteria grow

A climbing plant whose young fruits are edible and whose dried mature fruit makes a natural sponge

A mop with a soft sponge on a handle that soaks up water to clean floors

An edible mushroom with a cap of pits and ridges used in cooking

A mushroom you can eat with a soft, sponge-like head covered in pits and ridges

A small waterproof bag for carrying soap and toothpaste when travelling

A soft cloth that soaks up water for cleaning and drying surfaces

A light, soft cake flavored with vanilla

A plant fruit used as a natural bath sponge, like a loofah

A light cake made from two sponge layers sandwiched with jam and usually cream

How Intensive

to harvest
84 1.6
to sponge
  • Specialized
7.7
to collect
499 1.1

Surface Forms

sponge infinitive
spongeed past
spongeed past participle
spongeing present participle
sponges third person singular

Etymology

The verb sponge (to gather sponges) comes from the old work of taking the sea animals from the ocean for use as cleaning tools. That's why sailors would 'sponge' reefs and rocks to collect the absorbent animals called sponges.