Sponge vs. Coral — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Sponge and Coral
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Compare with Definitions
Sponge
Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the Diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through them, consisting of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells.
Coral
Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps.
Sponge
Any of numerous aquatic, chiefly marine filter-feeding invertebrate animals of the phylum Porifera, characteristically having a porous skeleton composed of fibrous material or siliceous or calcareous spicules and often forming colonies attached to an underwater surface. Also called poriferan.
Coral
A hard stony substance secreted by certain marine coelenterates as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs in warm seas
The nearby coral islands, lagoons, and atolls
A coral reef
Sponge
A piece of the absorbent skeleton of certain of these organisms, or a piece of plastic or another material that is similar in absorbency, used for cleaning, bathing, and other purposes.
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Coral
A sedentary coelenterate of warm and tropical seas, with a calcareous, horny, or soft skeleton. Most corals are colonial and many rely on the presence of green algae in their tissues to obtain energy from sunlight.
Sponge
Metal in a porous, brittle form, as after the removal of other metals in processing, used as a raw material in manufacturing.
Coral
The unfertilized roe of a lobster or scallop, which is used as food and becomes reddish when cooked
We had scallops with their coral, in their fluted shells
Sponge
A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or the dressing of a wound.
Coral
A rocklike deposit consisting of the calcareous skeletons secreted by various marine invertebrates, chiefly anthozoans. Coral deposits often accumulate to form reefs or islands in warm seas.
Sponge
A small absorbent contraceptive pad that contains a spermicide and is placed against the cervix of the uterus before sexual intercourse.
Coral
A polyp or colony of polyps of any of the numerous anthozoans that secrete a hard or flexible skeleton, especially the reef-building hard corals.
Sponge
Dough that has been or is being leavened.
Coral
A polyp or colony of polyps of any of various hydrozoans that secrete hard skeletons, such as the fire corals.
Sponge
A light cake, such as sponge cake.
Coral
The hard skeleton of various corals, especially of red corals of the genus Corallium, used to make jewelry and ornaments.
Sponge
(Informal) One who habitually depends on others for one's own maintenance.
Coral
An object made of this material.
Sponge
(Slang) A person who drinks large amounts of alcohol.
Coral
A deep or strong pink to moderate red or reddish orange.
Sponge
To moisten, wipe, or clean with a sponge or cloth
Sponge off the table.
Coral
The unfertilized eggs of a female lobster, which turn a reddish color when cooked.
Sponge
To remove or absorb with a sponge or cloth
Sponge off the sweat.
Sponge up the mess.
Coral
Of a deep or strong pink to moderate red or reddish orange.
Sponge
To apply or daub with a sponge
Sponge paint on the wall.
Coral
(countable) Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species.
Sponge
(Informal) To obtain free, as by begging or freeloading
Sponge a meal.
Coral
(uncountable) A hard substance made of the skeletons of these organisms.
Sponge
To harvest sponges.
Coral
(countable) A somewhat yellowish orange-pink colour; the colour of red coral (Corallium rubrum) of the Mediterranean Sea, commonly used as an ornament or gem.
Sponge
(Informal) To obtain something such as food or money by relying on the generosity of others
Sponged off her parents.
Coral
The ovaries of a cooked lobster; so called from their colour.
Sponge
(countable) Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.
Coral
(historical) A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.
Sponge
(countable) A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).
Coral
Made of coral.
Sponge
(uncountable) A porous material such as sponges consist of.
Coral
Having the orange-pink colour of coral.
Sponge
(informal) A heavy drinker.
Coral
The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa.
Sponge
A type of light cake.
Coral
The ovaries of a cooked lobster; - so called from their color.
Sponge
A type of steamed pudding.
Coral
A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.
Sponge
(slang) A person who takes advantage of the generosity of others (abstractly imagined to absorb or soak up the money or efforts of others like a sponge).
Coral
A variable color averaging a deep pink
Sponge
A person who readily absorbs ideas.
Coral
The hard stony skeleton of a Mediterranean coral that has a delicate red or pink color and is used for jewelry
Sponge
(countable) A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.
Coral
Unfertilized lobster roe; reddens in cooking; used as garnish or to color sauces
Sponge
Any sponge-like substance.
Coral
Marine colonial polyp characterized by a calcareous skeleton; masses in a variety of shapes often forming reefs
Sponge
(baking) 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.
Coral
Of a strong pink to yellowish-pink color
Sponge
Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
Sponge
Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
Sponge
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.
Sponge
The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.
Sponge
(slang) A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.
Sponge
To take advantage of the kindness of others.
He has been sponging off his friends for a month now.
Sponge
To get by imposition; to scrounge.
To sponge a breakfast
Sponge
(transitive) To deprive (somebody) of something by imposition.
Sponge
To clean, soak up, or dab with a sponge.
Sponge
To suck in, or imbibe, like a sponge.
Sponge
To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.
Sponge
To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast or leaven.
Sponge
To use a piece of wild sponge as a tool when foraging for food.
Sponge
Any one of numerous species of Spongiæ, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiæ.
Sponge
The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongiæ (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.
Sponge
One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
Sponge
Any spongelike substance.
Sponge
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.
Sponge
The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.
Sponge
To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.
Sponge
To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.
Sponge
Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition.
Sponge
Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast.
Sponge
To suck in, or imbibe, as a sponge.
Sponge
Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor.
The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that sponges upon other people's trenchers.
Sponge
To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.
Sponge
A porous mass of interlacing fibers the forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used
Sponge
Someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily;
She soaks up foreign languages like a sponge
Sponge
A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
Sponge
Primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies
Sponge
Wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
Sponge
Ask for and get free; be a parasite
Sponge
Erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard
Sponge
Soak up with a sponge
Sponge
Gather sponges, in the ocean
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