kædʒ ɡɹʌb muːtʃ ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt spʌnd͡ʒ spʌnd͡ʒ ˈspʌndʒɚ gather sponges, in the ocean wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten soak up with a sponge erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies ask for and get free; be a parasite a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used