Swab - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A swab is a small piece of soft material, such as cotton, used for cleaning wounds, applying medicine, or collecting samples for medical testing. It is also a verb meaning to clean or sample with such material.
Definition:
A small piece of absorbent material used for cleaning or medical sampling.
Synonyms:
wipe, mop, dab, sponge
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
dry, ignore
Common Collocations:
cotton swab, nasal swab, sterile swab, throat swab
Derivatives:
swabbing, swabbed
Usage Tips:
Use "swab" as a noun for the tool and as a verb for the action of cleaning or sampling with it.
Common Phrases:
swab the deck, test swab, clean with a swab
Etymology:
Originates from early Dutch "zwabber," meaning a mop or sponge.
Examples:
- 1. The nurse used a sterile swab to collect the sample.
- 2. He carefully swabbed the wound before applying the bandage.
- 3. She cleaned her ears with a cotton swab after showering.
- 4. The lab technician analyzed the throat swab for infections.