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An irregular, narrow, projecting part of a field. [Prov. Eng.]

Any one of numerous species of Spongiæ, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiæ.

See Spongiole.

Resembling sponge; having the nature or qualities of sponge.

One who sponges, or uses a sponge.

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

Spongiæ.

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.

The quality or state of being spongy. Dr. H. More.

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.

See Sponglæ.

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

Resembling sponge; like sponge.

Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones.