sponge

• Nom désignant un matériau poreux, naturel ou synthétique, utilisé pour absorber les liquides et nettoyer, ou un animal marin au corps poreux.

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.

   Éponge (outil de nettoyage)

   • 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.

   éponge (personne qui apprend vite)

   • 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.

   Synonymesquick study

3. Dependent followerC1informal

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

   Pique-assiette

   • 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.

   Synonymescadgerfreeloaderhanger-onleechmoocherparasitescroungersponger

4. Marine animalB1formalscientific

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

   Éponge (animal marin)

   • 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.

   Synonymesporiferan

• Verbe désignant l'action d'essuyer ou de nettoyer avec une éponge, ou, au sens figuré, d'absorber ou d'obtenir quelque chose sans contrepartie.

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.

   Nettoyer avec une éponge

   • 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.

   Synonymescleanmopsponge downswabwashwipe

2. Obtain without payingB2informal

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

   vivre aux dépens de quelqu'un

   • 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!

   Synonymesbumcadgefreeloadmoochscrounge

   Antonymesearnpayrepay

3. Erase with a spongeB1formal

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

   effacer avec une éponge

   • 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.

   Synonymescleaneraserub outwipe

4. Absorb liquidB1formal

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

   éponger

   • 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.

   Synonymesabsorbblotmop upsoak upsop uptake up

   Antonymesdraindrywring

5. Gather spongesC1formal

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

   récolter des éponges

   • 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.

Variantes phrasalsponge downsponge offsponge onsponge up