sponge

Any of various marine invertebrates, mostly of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.

A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).

A porous material such as sponges consist of.

A heavy drinker.

A type of light cake.

A type of steamed pudding.

A person who takes advantage of the generosity of others (abstractly imagined to absorb or soak up the money or efforts of others like a sponge).

A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.

Any sponge-like substance.

A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.

The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.

A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.

To take advantage of the kindness of others.

“He has been sponging off his friends for a month now.”

To get by imposition; to scrounge.

“to sponge a breakfast”

To deprive (somebody) of something by imposition.

To clean, soak up, or dab with a sponge.

To suck in, or imbibe, like a sponge.

To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.

To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast or leaven.