sponge

• اسم يدل على مادة مسامية طبيعية أو صناعية تُستخدم لامتصاص السوائل والتنظيف، أو على حيوان بحري ذي جسم مسامي.

A noun referring to a porous material, either natural or synthetic, used for absorbing liquids and cleaning, or to a marine animal with a porous body.

1. Porous cleaning toolA1formal

   A piece of porous material, originally from a sea animal, used for absorbing water and cleaning.

   إسفنجة

   • She used a sponge to wipe the kitchen counter.
   • The sponge soaked up all the spilled water.
   • He squeezed the sponge dry before putting it away.

2. Quick learnerB2informal

   A person who can acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily.

   إسفنجة

   • The new intern is a real sponge, picking up complex tasks in days.
   • She's a sponge for information, always asking insightful questions.
   • He's a sponge when it comes to languages; he learned Spanish in three months.

   المرادفاتquick study

3. Dependent followerC1informal

   A person who hangs around others, hoping to gain something without giving anything in return.

   طُفَيْلِيّ

   • He's just a sponge, always mooching off his wealthy friends.
   • She's tired of being a sponge and wants to become independent.
   • The party was full of sponges looking for free drinks.

   المرادفاتcadgerfreeloaderhanger-onleechmoocherparasitescroungersponger

4. Marine animalB1formalscientific

   A simple, primitive aquatic animal with a porous body that lives attached to surfaces in the ocean.

   إسفنج

   • Sponges are among the oldest living animals on Earth.
   • The coral reef was home to many colorful sponges.
   • Scientists discovered a new species of sponge in the deep sea.

   المرادفاتporiferan

• فعل يدل على مسح شيء أو تنظيفه بالإسفنج، أو مجازًا على امتصاص شيء أو الحصول عليه دون مقابل أو على التطفل والاستغلال.

A verb used to indicate the act of wiping or cleaning with a sponge, or figuratively, to absorb or take something without giving back.

1. Clean with a spongeA2formal

   To wipe or clean a surface using a sponge, often to remove dirt or moisture.

   التنظيف بالإسفنج

   • She sponged the kitchen counter after cooking.
   • He carefully sponged the stain off the carpet.
   • The nurse sponged the patient's forehead with cool water.

   المرادفاتcleanmopsponge downswabwashwipe

2. Obtain without payingB2informal

   To get something, especially money or food, from others without giving anything in return; to live off others.

   العيش على حساب الآخرين

   • He's always sponging off his friends for meals.
   • She sponged a free ticket to the concert from her cousin.
   • Stop sponging and get a job!

   المرادفاتbumcadgefreeloadmoochscrounge

   الأضدادearnpayrepay

3. Erase with a spongeB1formal

   To remove written marks, such as words on a blackboard, using a damp sponge.

   محا بالمِسْبَعة

   • The teacher sponged the equations off the board.
   • He sponged the chalk marks clean before the next class.
   • She used a wet sponge to erase the drawing.

   المرادفاتcleaneraserub outwipe

4. Absorb liquidB1formal

   To soak up or take in liquid using a sponge or similar material.

   امتصاص السائل

   • The cloth sponged up the spilled water quickly.
   • Use a paper towel to sponge the excess oil from the pan.
   • The sponge can sponge up to ten times its weight in water.

   المرادفاتabsorbblotmop upsoak upsop uptake up

   الأضدادdraindrywring

5. Gather spongesC1formal

   To collect natural sponges from the ocean, typically by diving.

   جمع الإسفنج

   • The divers sponged along the coral reef for hours.
   • They used to sponge in the Mediterranean for a living.
   • Sponging is a traditional occupation in some coastal villages.

الصيغ المركّبةsponge downsponge offsponge onsponge up