Swab

/swɒb/ · noun

Meaning

(medicine) A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access..

Definitions by Sense

1. (medicine) A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access.
2. A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).
3. A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
4. A mop, especially on a ship.
5. (slang) A sailor; a swabby.
6. (slang) A naval officer's epaulet.
7. (transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

Example Sentences

As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is.

swab the deck of a ship

He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it.

Synonyms for swab

Antonyms for swab

Related Words

Word Forms

• swabs
• swabbing
• swabbed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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