assimilator vs sponge

assimilator and sponge both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
assimilator	Yes	No	No	No
sponge	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, sponge is a hyponym of assimilator; that is, sponge is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than assimilator:

assimilator: someone (especially a child) who learns (as from a teacher) or takes up knowledge or beliefs
sponge: someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily

Other hyponyms of assimilator include memoriser, memorizer, quick study, dweeb, grind, nerd, swot, wonk, tutee.

assimilator (noun)	sponge (noun)
someone (especially a child) who learns (as from a teacher) or takes up knowledge or beliefs	primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in sessile colonies
	a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
	someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily
	a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used

assimilator (verb)	sponge (verb)
	wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
	erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard
	soak up with a sponge
	gather sponges, in the ocean
	ask for and get free; be a parasite