Swab Definition

swäb
swabbed, swabbing, swabs, swobs
noun
swabs
A small piece of cotton, cloth, or sponge, often fixed to a small stick, used to clean a wound, the ears, etc. or to apply medicine to wounds.
Webster's New World
Matter collected in this way.
Webster's New World
A yarn mop, usually used wet, for cleaning decks, floors, etc.
Webster's New World
A sponge or patch of absorbent material used to clean the bore of a firearm or cannon.
American Heritage
A brush, wad of cloth, etc. on a long handle, for cleaning the barrel of a gun.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
swabbed, swabbing, swabs
To use a swab on.
American Heritage
To use a swab on; clean, medicate, etc. with a swab.
Webster's New World
To collect a sample from (a person, for example) using a swab.
American Heritage
To use a swab on.
American Heritage Medicine
To collect a sample from using a swab.
American Heritage Medicine

Other Word Forms of Swab

Noun

Singular:
swab
Plural:
swabs

Origin of Swab

  • Back-formation from swabber mop for a ship's deck (from obsolete Dutch zwabber) (from zwabben to mop) or from obsolete Dutch swabbe mop (from Middle Dutch)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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