lead brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by compressing finely divided lead; — used
in secondary batteries and otherwise. — Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree with deliciously
fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumery. — Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety Mediterranea); — called also turkish sponge. — To
set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity. - -
To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; — from a custom of the prize
ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of
defeat. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate." Lowell. — Vegetable
sponge. (Bot.) See Loof. — Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge (Spongia equina, variety
meandriniformis) found in Florida and the West Indies. — Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge. - -
Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge (Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia)
found in Florida and the West Indies.
Sponge
(Sponge), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sponged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sponging ]
1. To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to
sponge cloth.
2. To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of. Hooker.
3. Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition. "How came such multitudes of our nation . . . to be
sponged of their plate and their money?" South.
4. Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast. Swift.
Sponge
(Sponge), v. i.
1. To suck in, or imbile, as a sponge.
2. Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor. E.
Eggleston.
The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that sponges upon other people's trenchers.
L'Estrange. 3. To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.
Spongelet
(Sponge"let) n. See Spongiole.
Spongeous
(Spon"geous) a. [See Spongious.] Resembling sponge; having the nature or qualities of
sponge.
Sponger
(Spon"ger) n.
1. One who sponges, or uses a sponge.
2. One employed in gathering sponges.
3. Fig.: A parasitical dependent; a hanger- on.
Spongiæ
(||Spon"gi*æ) n. pl. [See Sponge.] (Zoöl.) The grand division of the animal kingdom which includes
the sponges; — called also Spongida, Spongiaria, Spongiozoa, and Porifera.
In the Spongiæ, the soft sarcode of the body is usually supported by a skeleton consisting of horny fibers,
or of silleceous or calcareous spicules. The common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and
canals, and numerous small ampullæ which which are lined with ciliated cells capable of taking in solid
food. The outer surface usually has minute pores through which water enters, and large openings for its
