sponge

• 指一种多孔材料，可以是天然的或合成的，用来吸收液体或清洁；也指一种身体多孔的海生动物。

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.

   海绵

   • 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.

   海绵

   • 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.

   同义词quick study

3. Dependent followerC1informal

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

   寄生虫

   • 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.

   同义词cadgerfreeloaderhanger-onleechmoocherparasitescroungersponger

4. Marine animalB1formalscientific

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

   海绵

   • 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.

   同义词poriferan

• 动词，表示用海绵擦拭或清洁，也指像海绵一样吸收，或贬义地指白吃白拿、占便宜。

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.

   用海绵擦拭

   • 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.

   同义词cleanmopsponge downswabwashwipe

2. Obtain without payingB2informal

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

   白吃白拿

   • 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!

   同义词bumcadgefreeloadmoochscrounge

   反义词earnpayrepay

3. Erase with a spongeB1formal

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

   用海绵擦掉

   • 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.

   同义词cleaneraserub outwipe

4. Absorb liquidB1formal

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

   吸收液体

   • 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.

   同义词absorbblotmop upsoak upsop uptake up

   反义词draindrywring

5. Gather spongesC1formal

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

   采集海绵

   • 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.

短语动词变体sponge downsponge offsponge onsponge up