Any species of the class Hexactinellida of sponges, which have a skeleton made of four- and/or six-pointed siliceous spicules.

plural of sponge bag

(UK, Australia) A bag for carrying toiletries, as when travelling.

Any of many sponges, of the class Sclerospongiae, that have a massive skeleton made of calcium carbonate

(UK, historical) 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 were commonly made for food, lodging, etc.

plural of sponging house

A porous, grayish-black form of platinum.

(cooking) To leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

A fine and soft variety of commercial sponges (Spongia officinalis).

A commercially used species of sponge (porifer, invertebrate of the phylum Porifera) found throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Spongia officinalis.