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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.

swab

/swɑb/ /swɒb/

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.

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