Definitions

1. adjective

of or resembling a sponge, especially in structure or texture

“The spongiform structure of the sea sponge was studied by marine biologists.”

2. noun

a disease, especially a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the formation of abnormal proteins that accumulate in the brain and cause damage

“Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are spongiform in nature.”