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spongiform

spongiform

8.3
A thing that is soft and full of small holes like a sponge
  • adjective
  • /ˈspʌndʒɪfɔrm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esponjoso
  • The pathologist noted spongiform changes in the brain tissue under the microscope.

Mad cow disease is a prion that causes bovine spongiform encephalitis BES, but it's mad cow disease.

Examples

  • The tissue sample appeared spongiform under the microscope.

  • Certain diseases can cause organs to develop a spongiform appearance.

  • The infected tissue became spongiform, losing its normal structure and firmness.

  • Some spongiform lesions were observed in the patient's brain.

  • The pathologist noted spongiform changes in the brain tissue under the microscope.

  • Certain diseases can cause organs to develop a spongiform appearance.

  • The infected tissue became spongiform, losing its normal structure and firmness.

Synonyms

spongy
vsspongiform
11 2.2

Soft and full of small holes that soak up liquid easily

is used mainly in medical contexts rather than general description
spongelike
vsspongiform
4.9

Soft and full of small holes that soak up liquids

is used mainly in medical contexts rather than common descriptive use

Compounds

A deadly brain disease in cows that makes them unsteady and restless

How Spongy

honeycombed
1 4.9
spongiform
  • Specialized
8.3
porous
23 4.6

Surface Forms

spongiform positive

Morphology

spongiform = sponge (transparent) = sponge + form

Formed by the productive scientific suffix '-form' meaning 'having the shape or appearance of' attached to 'sponge', so the meaning is directly 'sponge-like'.

Etymology

The word spongiform comes from sponge and the ending -form, which means 'shape'. It literally means 'in the shape of a sponge', so it describes tissue that looks full of small holes and soaks up liquid like a kitchen sponge.