noun
Meaning 1
One who uses a sponge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
sponger
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American: /ˈspʌnd͡ʒɚ/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
noun
Meaning 2
A parasitic hanger-on.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A person or vessel employed in gathering sponges from the sea.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A device for sponging cloth by means of a perforated adjustable cylinder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: leech, parasite, sponge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: follower
noun
Meaning 6
a workman employed to collect sponges
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: workman, workingman, working man, working person
History
Etymology
From sponge + -er.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: готован (gotovan) — one who sponges
- Dutch: klaploper — one who sponges
- German: Schnorrer — one who sponges
- Ancient Greek: παράσιτος (parásitos) — one who sponges
- Irish: failpéir — one who sponges
- Latin: parasītus — one who sponges
- Latin: parasīta — one who sponges
- Macedonian: мо́лзач (mólzač) — one who sponges
- Macedonian: муфте́џија (muftédžija) — one who sponges
- Spanish: cafiche — one who sponges
- Spanish: gorrón — one who sponges
- Spanish: pedigüeño — one who sponges
- Spanish: chupóptero — one who sponges