2. One employed in gathering sponges.
[1913 Webster]
3. Fig.: A parasitical dependent; a hanger-on. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
sponger — ► NOUN informal ▪ a person who lives at others expense … English terms dictionary
sponger — [spun′jər] n. 1. a person or vessel that gathers sponges 2. a person who cleans, etc. with a sponge 3. Informal a person who, though able to work, depends on others for food, money, etc … English World dictionary
sponger — UK [ˈspʌndʒə(r)] / US [ˈspʌndʒər] noun [countable] Word forms sponger : singular sponger plural spongers informal, showing disapproval someone who asks for money and other things from someone such as a friend or relative and makes no effort to… … English dictionary
sponger — n A parasite. You are such a sponger. Why don t you get a job? 1680s … Historical dictionary of American slang
sponger — [[t]spʌ̱nʤə(r)[/t]] spongers N COUNT (disapproval) If you describe someone as a sponger, you mean that they sponge off other people or organizations. [INFORMAL] Syn: scrounger … English dictionary
sponger — sponge, sponger *parasite, sycophant, favorite, toady, lickspittle, bootlicker, hanger on, leech … New Dictionary of Synonyms
sponger — noun see sponge II … New Collegiate Dictionary
sponger — /spun jeuhr/, n. 1. a person or thing that sponges. 2. a person who habitually borrows or lives at the expense of others; parasite. 3. a person or boat engaged in gathering sponges. [1670 80; SPONGE + ER1] * * * … Universalium
sponger — noun One who sponges … Wiktionary
sponger — Synonyms and related words: barnacle, beat, beggar, bloodsucker, bummer, cadger, coupon clippers, deadbeat, drone, freeloader, hanger on, idle rich, leech, leisure class, lounge lizard, lumpen proletariat, mendicant, moocher, nonworker,… … Moby Thesaurus
