n (1)海绵(体)(type of simple sea creatures，or its soft skeleton，which has many holes and is able to suck up and hold water)[C]：Water is absorbed by a～. 水被海绵吸去。～rubber 泡沫橡皮;squeeze out a～挤出海绵中的水分;

(2)搓澡、填充等用的海绵(或海绵状物)(piece of such a skeleton or a substitute，used for washing the body， padding，etc)[C，U]：a large bath～一大块洗澡用海绵;be filled with～用海绵填充;

(3)(外科用)吸水(血)物(如棉球，纱布(piece of absorbed material used to absorb blood or other bodily fluids as in surgery or in dressing a wound)[C];

(4)用海绵擦拭(act of cleaning with a sponge)[C，尤 sing]：give the table/the floor a quick～把桌子/地板很快擦拭一遍;have a～ (down)用海绵擦洗全身;

(5)松软蛋糕(soft，light cake made from eggs，sugar and flour but usu no fat (AmE))[C，U](=sponge-cake)：have jam～for dessert 吃抹果酱的松软蛋糕当甜点;I'd like some more～. 我想再吃点松软蛋糕。

throw in/up the sponge 承认失败，认输;After taking a beating for five rounds，the fighter's seconds threw in the～. 五个回合后，拳击手的助手们就认输了。

→′spongy adj 像海绵的;′sponginess n 吸水性;′sponge-bag n 盥洗用品防水袋(BrE);′sponge-cake n 海绵蛋糕;͵sponge-′pudding n 海绵布丁;

v (1)用海绵擦拭(清洗) (clean，wipe，rub，etc with a sponge)[T+n，T+n+adv (down)]：～sb's face/that jacket/a wound 用海绵擦某人的脸/那夹克/伤口;～oneself down in a hot bath 洗热水澡时用海绵擦洗全身;S～the mud spots off the car. 用海绵擦去汽车上的污点。〖同〗wash，rub，clean，dry;

(2)吸掉(液体)(remove liquid with a sponge，cloth，etc) [T+n，T+n+adv (up)]：～(up) blood from a cut 吸掉刀口处的血;～(up) the spilled water 把溅的水擦干;

(3)索要，白拿(get money，etc from sb usu so as not to work oneself)[I，T+n，T+n+prep(from)](infml，derog)：He is always～ing. 他总是吃白食。Don't keep～ing from your father! 别总白吃你父亲了!～a dinner 白吃一顿;～six dollars from one of one's friends 向一位朋友索要六美元;～on others for cigarettes 向别人讨香烟;〖同〗obtain，free;

sponge off/out (v prep)用海绵等擦拭以除去(vt)：Can you～off this stain? 你能用海绵把这污迹擦掉吗?

sponge on/off (v prep)白吃(用)，揩油(infml，通常derog)(vt)：He is a very lazy man and always～s on his old parents. 他很懒，总是靠年迈的父母养活。

→′sponger n 寄生虫(依赖他人生活的人);′sponging n 用海绵擦拭