Swab

Quick meaning: Swab is a noun meaning A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).

Meaning

A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).

More Meanings

1. A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
2. A mop, especially on a ship.
3. (transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.
4. (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.
5. (slang) A sailor; a swabby.
6. (slang) A naval officer's epaulet.

Example Sentences

swab the deck of a ship

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

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.

Word Forms

• swabs
• swabbing
• swabbed

Synonyms for swab

Depending on context, synonyms include swabby, dab, mop, swob.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include mop, dab, swob, buffer, wipe, kit.

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