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To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

ous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.

A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.

The grand division of the animal kingdom which includes the sponges; -- called also Spongida, Spongiaria, Spongiozoa, and Porifera.

Resembling a sponge; soft and porous; porous.

A genus of siliceous spongea found in fresh water.

The chemical basis of sponge tissue, a nitrogenous, hornlike substance which on decomposition with sulphuric acid yields leucin and glycocoll.

a. & n. from Sponge, v. Sponging house (Eng. Law), a bailiff's or other house in which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging, etc.

A supposed spongelike expansion of the tip of a rootlet for absorbing water; -- called also spongelet.

One of the microsporic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints.

A kind of cloth interwoven with small pieces of sponge and rendered waterproof on one side by a covering of rubber. When moistend with hot water it is used as a poultice.

Somewhat spongy; spongelike; full of small cavities like sponge; as, spongious bones.

One of the cells which, in sponges, secrete the spongin, or the material of the horny fibers.

Resembling sponge; like sponge.

Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. "Spongy April." Shak.

A sponge. [Obs.]

peculiar kind of internal buds, or germs, produced in the interior of certain Bryozoa and sponges, especially in the fresh- water species; -- also called winter buds.

Any sponge of the genus Suberites and allied genera. These sponges have a fine and compact texture, and contain minute siliceous spicules.

A parasite; a sponger. See def. 6, above. They who constantly converse with men far above their estates shall reap shame and loss thereby; if thou payest nothing, they will count thee a sucker, no branch. Fuller.

ing; as, a supply tank or valve. Supply system (Zoöl.), the system of tubes and canals in sponges by means of which food and water are absorbed. See Illust. of Spongiæ.