Sponge

n. 1 sea animal with a porous body wall and a rigid internal skeleton. 2 this skeleton or a piece of porous rubber etc. used in bathing, cleaning, etc. 3 thing like a sponge in consistency etc., esp. a sponge cake. 4 act of sponging. v. (ging) 1 wipe or cleanse with a sponge. 2 (often foil. by out, away, etc.) wipe off or efface (as) with a sponge. 3 (often toll. by up) absorb (as) with a sponge. 0 (often foil. by on, on) live as a parasite. ri spongiform adj. (esp. in senses 1, 2 of the n.). [Latin spongial