‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. calx, calcis, lime + spongia a sponge. ] (Zool.) An order of marine sponges, containing calcareous spicules. See Porifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. ke`ras, ke`ratos horn + &unr_; sponge. ] (Zool.) An order of sponges in which the skeleton consists of horny fibers. It includes all the commercial sponges. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. fibra a fiber + spongia a sponge. ] (Zool.) An order of sponges having a fibrous skeleton, including the commercial sponges. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. "y`alos glass + &unr_; a sponge.] (Zool.) An order of vitreous sponges, having glassy six-rayed, siliceous spicules; -- called also Hexactinellinæ. [1913 Webster]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; river + &unr_; a sponge. ] (Zool.) The fresh-water sponges. See Spongilla. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Silex, and Sponge. ] (Zool.) Same as Silicoidea. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ See Sponge. ] (Zool.) The grand division of the animal kingdom which includes the sponges; -- called also Spongida, Spongiaria, Spongiozoa, and Porifera. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the Spongiae, the soft sarcode of the body is usually supported by a skeleton consisting of horny fibers, or of siliceous or calcareous spicules. The common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and canals, and numerous small ampullae which are lined with ciliated cells capable of taking in solid food. The outer surface usually has minute pores through which water enters, and large openings for its exit. Sponges produce eggs and spermatozoa, and the egg when fertilized undergoes segmentation to form a ciliated embryo. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] Spongiae. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling a sponge; soft and porous; porous. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., dim. of spongia a sponge. ] (Zool.) A genus of siliceous sponges found in fresh water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol. Chem.) The chemical basis of sponge tissue, a nitrogenous, hornlike substance which on decomposition with sulphuric acid yields leucin and glycocoll. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being spongy. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Sponge, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. spongiola a rose gall, small roots, dim. of spongia: cf. F. spongiole. ] (Bot.) A supposed spongelike expansion of the tip of a rootlet for absorbing water; -- called also spongelet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. spoggia` sponge + -lite. ] (Paleon.) One of the microscopic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. spoggi`on, dim. of spo`ggos a sponge + pi^los felt. ] (Med.) A kind of cloth interwoven with small pieces of sponge and rendered waterproof on one side by a covering of rubber. When moistened with hot water it is used as a poultice. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. spongiosus, spongeosus: cf. F. spongieux. See Sponge. ] Somewhat spongy; spongelike; full of small cavities like sponge; as, spongious bones. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., Gr. spoggia` sponge + zw^, on an animal. ] (Zool.) See Spongiae. [ 1913 Webster ]