[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

glass-sponge \glass"-sponge`\, n. zool.
   a siliceous sponge, of the genus hyalonema, and allied
   genera; -- so called from their glassy fibers or spicules; --
   called also vitreous sponge. see glass-rope, and
   euplectella.
   1913 webster
see also:
hyalonema vitreous sponge glass-rope euplectella 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

sponge \sponge\ spu^nj, n. of. esponge, f. 'eponge, l.
   spongia, gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. cf. fungus, spunk.
   formerly written also spunge.
   1. zool. any one of numerous species of spongiae, or
      porifera. see illust. and note under spongiae.
      1913 webster

   2. the elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
      spongiae keratosa, used for many purposes, especially
      the varieties of the genus spongia. the most valuable
      sponges are found in the mediterranean and the red sea,
      and on the coasts of florida and the west indies.
      1913 webster

   3. fig.: one who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
      indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
      1913 webster

   4. any spongelike substance. specifically:
      a dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
          after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
          agency of the yeast or leaven.
      b iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
      c iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
          1913 webster

   5. gun. a mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
      discharge. it consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
      sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
      nap, and having a handle, or staff.
      1913 webster

   6. far. the extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
      to the heel.
      1913 webster

   bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
      commercial sponges, especially spongia equina.

   cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.
      

   glass sponge. see glass-sponge, in the vocabulary.

   glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge spongia
      officinalis, variety tubulifera, having very fine
      fibers, native of florida, and the west indies.

   grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
      commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
      as spongia graminea, and spongia equina, variety
      cerebriformis, of florida and the west indies.

   horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
      spongia equina.

   platinum sponge. chem. see under platinum.

   pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
      fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
      put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
      dried in an oven. this makes the black match, or tinder,
      brought from germany.

   sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
      spongia equina, variety gossypina found in florida and
      the west indies. the surface is covered with larger and
      smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

   sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
      spongy.

   sponge lead, or spongy lead chem., metallic lead
      brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
      compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
      batteries and otherwise.

   sponge tree bot., a tropical leguminous tree acacia
      farnesiana, with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
      used in perfumery.

   toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
      mediterranean sponge spongia officinalis, variety
      mediterranea; -- called also turkish sponge.

   to set a sponge cookery, to leaven a small mass of flour,
      to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

   to throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
      acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
      the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
      throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
      throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
      origin and meaning. cant or slang "he was too brave a
      man to throw up the sponge to fate." --lowell.

   vegetable sponge. bot. see loof.

   velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge spongia
      equina, variety meandriniformis found in florida and the
      west indies.

   vitreous sponge. see glass-sponge.

   yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
      spongia agaricina, variety corlosia found in florida
      and the west indies.
      1913 webster
see also:
fungus spunk spunge spongiae spongia bath sponge 
spongia equina cup sponge glass sponge glass-sponge glove sponge 
spongia officinalis grass sponge spongia graminea horse sponge platinum sponge 
platinum pyrotechnical sponge sheep's-wool sponge sponge cake sponge lead 
spongy lead sponge tree acacia farnesiana toilet sponge spongia officinalis 
turkish sponge to set a sponge to throw up the sponge throw in the towel vegetable sponge 
loof velvet sponge spongia equina vitreous sponge yellow sponge 
spongia agaricina 

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

vitreous \vit"reous\, a. l. vitreous, from vitrum glass;
   perhaps akin to videre to see see vision. cf. varnish.
   1. consisting of, or resembling, glass; glassy; as, vitreous
      rocks.
      1913 webster

   2. of or pertaining to glass; derived from glass; as,
      vitreous electricity.
      1913 webster

   vitreous body anat., the vitreous humor. see the note
      under eye.

   vitreous electricity elec., the kind of electricity
      excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk;
      positive electricity; -- opposed to resinous, or negative,
      electricity.

   vitreous humor. anat. see the note under eye.

   vitreous sponge zool., any one of numerous species of
      siliceous sponges having, often fibrous, glassy spicules
      which are normally six-rayed; a hexactinellid sponge. see
      venus's basket, under venus.
      1913 webster
see also:
vision varnish vitreous body eye vitreous electricity vitreous humor 
vitreous sponge venus's basket venus 

Vitreous >> V Words
Vitreous, definition of term: Vitreous
vitreous_pag1.html

Sponge >> S Words
Sponge, definition of term: Sponge
sponge_pag1.html

Sponge Tree >> S Words
Sponge Tree, definition of term: Sponge Tree
sponge+tree_pag1.html

Vitreous Humor >> V Words
Vitreous Humor, definition of term: Vitreous Humor
vitreous+humor_pag1.html

Sponge Cake >> S Words
Sponge Cake, definition of term: Sponge Cake
sponge+cake_pag1.html

Sponge Bath >> S Words
Sponge Bath, definition of term: Sponge Bath
sponge+bath_pag1.html

Finger Sponge >> F Words
Finger Sponge, definition of term: Finger Sponge
finger+sponge_pag1.html

Toilet Sponge >> T Words
Toilet Sponge, definition of term: Toilet Sponge
toilet+sponge_pag1.html