Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [spuhnj]
- /spʌndʒ/
- /spʌndʒ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [spuhnj]
- /spʌndʒ/
Definitions of sponging word
- noun sponging any aquatic, chiefly marine animal of the phylum Porifera, having a porous structure and usually a horny, siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton or framework, occurring in large, sessile colonies. 1
- noun sponging the light, yielding, porous, fibrous skeleton or framework of certain animals or colonies of this group, especially of the genera Spongia and Hippospongia, from which the living matter has been removed, characterized by readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness: used in bathing, in wiping or cleaning surfaces, etc. 1
- noun sponging any of various other similar substances, often porous rubber or cellulose, used for washing or cleaning. 1
- noun sponging sponge bath. 1
- noun sponging a person or thing that absorbs something freely: His mind is a sponge gathering historical data. 1
- noun sponging a person who persistently borrows from or lives at the expense of others; sponger; parasite. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of sponging
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; (noun) Middle English, Old English < Latin spongia, spongea < Greek spongiā́; (v.) Middle English spongen to clean with a sponge, derivative of the noun
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Sponging
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
sponging popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 57% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
sponging usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for sponging
noun sponging
adj sponging
- bumming — a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.
- freeloading — to take advantage of others for free food, entertainment, etc.
- leeching — any bloodsucking or carnivorous aquatic or terrestrial worm of the class Hirudinea, certain freshwater species of which were formerly much used in medicine for bloodletting.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with s
- Words starting with sp
- Words starting with spo
- Words starting with spon
- Words starting with spong
- Words starting with spongi
- Words starting with spongin
- Words starting with sponging