· 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

Hypernym(s): absorbent_material, absorbent

· someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily; "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge"

Synonym(s): quick_study

Hypernym(s): learner, scholar, assimilator

· a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

Synonym(s): leech, parasite, sponger

Hypernym(s): follower

· primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies

Synonym(s): poriferan, parazoan

Hypernym(s): invertebrate

· wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten

Hypernym(s): wipe, pass_over

· ask for and get free; be a parasite

Synonym(s): mooch, bum, cadge, grub

Hypernym(s): obtain

· erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard

Hypernym(s): erase, rub_out, score_out, efface, wipe_off

· soak up with a sponge

Hypernym(s): wipe_up, mop_up, mop

· gather sponges, in the ocean

Hypernym(s): gather, garner, collect, pull_together