spongiform

American  

[spuhn-juh-fawrm] / ˈspʌn dʒəˌfɔrm /

adjective

1. resembling a sponge, as in appearance or structure.

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spongiform British  

/ ˈspʌndʒɪˌfɔːm /

adjective

1. resembling a sponge in appearance, esp in having many holes

2. denoting diseases characterized by this appearance of affected tissues

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Etymology

Origin of spongiform

First recorded in 1815–20

Example Sentences

The findings, which have been published by The Journal of Comparative Neurology, offer a compelling new explanation for commonly described brain pathologies observed in Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid-beta plaques, tau tangles, and spongiform abnormalities.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2024

In the 1980s, concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy — or mad cow disease — took hold across Europe, when cases of the incurable and invariably fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle began to appear.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2024

Officials with Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said the cases were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy causing human illness.

From Reuters • Nov. 18, 2021

Known as CWD, the deadly neurological disease kills deer and elk and is similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2021

Vesiculated bread is now the only article of diet made from flour to which the term bread is applied, and there are various ways of producing the spongiform texture by which it is characterized.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various