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    sponge

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    sponge
    I
    sponge1 /spʌndʒ/ noun
     Date: 1000-1100
     Language: Latin
     Origin: spongia, from Greek

    1. [uncountable and countable] a piece of a soft natural or artificial substance full of small holes, which can suck up liquid and is used for washing
    2. [countable] a simple sea creature from which natural sponge is produced
    3. [singular] British English an act of washing something with a sponge
    4. [uncountable and countable] British English a light cake made from flour, sugar, butter, and eggs:
        a Victoria sponge
    5. [countable] a sponger

    II
    sponge2 verb
    1. (also sponge down) [transitive] to wash something with a wet cloth or sponge:
        Clean the rug by sponging it gently.
        She stood on the bath mat and sponged herself down.
    2. [intransitive] informal to get money, free meals etc from other people, without doing anything for them – used to show disapproval
        sponge off/on
        These people are just sponging off the taxpayers.
    3. [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove liquid or a mark with a wet cloth or sponge
        sponge something off (something)
        I’ll go and sponge this juice off my dress.
    4. [transitive] to put paint on a surface using a sponge
        sponge something on (something)
        Just sponge the paint on, like this.