sponge
Translation
sponge, sponge cake
Examples
Use a sponge to clean the dishes.
Use a sponge to clean the dishes.
She baked a delicious Victoria sponge.
She baked a delicious Victoria sponge.
His brain is a sponge for new information.
His brain is a sponge for new information.
Grammar Patterns
to clean ((sth.)) with a sponge to use a sponge for cleaning She cleaned the table with a sponge.
a sponge for ((sth.)) (figurative) something that absorbs easily His brain is a sponge for new facts.
Similar Words
scourer, cloth (for cleaning); absorber (figurative)
Etymology
Derived from Latin 'spongia' and Greek 'spongiā', which referred to the aquatic animal whose porous skeleton is used for cleaning.
Memory Tips
Think of how a sponge absorbs liquid. This idea extends to a light, airy 'sponge cake' and a person who absorbs knowledge easily.