Definition of "spongiform" [spon•gi•form]

• Resembling a sponge in appearance or texture; spongy. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "CJD results in the brain literally being turned into sponge-like, hole-filled tissue (the reason the disease is also known as spongiform encephalopathy)."
• "In describing the sponge-like ( "spongiform") nature of brains of infected animals, the vet mentioned "Holes in the brain are not good, not conducive to long life.""
• "They suggested that such "spongiform" brain disorders were caused not by conventional agents such as viruses and bacteria, but a novel type of infectious agent: a rogue protein."