Sponge vs. Starfish — What's the Difference?

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.

Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars.

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.

A marine echinoderm (invertebrate) with five or more radiating arms. The undersides of the arms bear tube feet for locomotion and, in predatory species, for opening the shells of molluscs.

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.

Any of various marine echinoderms of the class Asteroidea, characteristically having a thick, often spiny body with five arms extending from a central disk. Also called asteroid, sea star.

Metal in a porous, brittle form, as after the removal of other metals in processing, used as a raw material in manufacturing.

Any of various asteroids or other echinoderms (not in fact fish) with usually five arms, many of which eat bivalves or corals by everting their stomach.

A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or the dressing of a wound.

(obsolete) Any many-armed or tentacled sea invertebrate, whether cnidarian, echinoderm, or cephalopod.

A small absorbent contraceptive pad that contains a spermicide and is placed against the cervix of the uterus before sexual intercourse.

(slang) A woman (or, less commonly, a gay man) who reluctantly takes part in sexual intercourse, and lies on the back while spreading the limbs.

Dough that has been or is being leavened.

The anus. Category:en:Pornography

A light cake, such as sponge cake.

(intransitive) To assume a splayed-out shape, like that of a starfish.

(Informal) One who habitually depends on others for one's own maintenance.

(transitive) To form into a splayed-out shape, like that of a starfish.

(Slang) A person who drinks large amounts of alcohol.

Any one of numerous species of echinoderms belonging to the class Asterioidea, in which the body is star-shaped and usually has five rays, though the number of rays varies from five to forty or more. The rays are often long, but are sometimes so short as to appear only as angles to the disklike body. Called also sea star, five-finger, and stellerid.

To moisten, wipe, or clean with a sponge or cloth

The dollar fish, or butterfish.

To remove or absorb with a sponge or cloth

Echinoderms characterized by five arms extending from a central disk

To apply or daub with a sponge

(Informal) To obtain free, as by begging or freeloading

To harvest sponges.

(Informal) To obtain something such as food or money by relying on the generosity of others

(countable) Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Porifera, that have a porous skeleton often of silica.

(countable) A piece of porous material used for washing (originally made from the invertebrates, now often made of plastic).

(uncountable) A porous material such as sponges consist of.

(informal) A heavy drinker.

A type of light cake.

A type of steamed pudding.

(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).

A person who readily absorbs ideas.

(countable) A form of contraception that is inserted vaginally; a contraceptive sponge.

Any sponge-like substance.

(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.

Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.

Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.

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.

The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, corresponding to the heel.

(slang) A nuclear power plant worker routinely exposed to radiation.

To take advantage of the kindness of others.

To get by imposition; to scrounge.

(transitive) To deprive (somebody) of something by imposition.

To clean, soak up, or dab with a sponge.

To suck in, or imbibe, like a sponge.

To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.

To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast or leaven.

To use a piece of wild sponge as a tool when foraging for food.

Any one of numerous species of Spongiæ, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiæ.

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.

One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.

Any spongelike substance.

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.

The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.

To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.

To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.

Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition.

Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast.

To suck in, or imbibe, as a sponge.

Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor.

To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.

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

Someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily;

A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

Primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies

Wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten

Ask for and get free; be a parasite

Erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard

Soak up with a sponge

Gather sponges, in the ocean