English
swab
Pronunciation Noun

swab (plural swabs)

  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.
    • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, ch. 25:
      As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is.
  6. (slang) A naval officer's epaulet.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

swab (swabs, present participle swabbing; past and past participle swabbed)

  1. (transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.
    swab the deck of a ship
Translations
  • Russian: вытира́ть


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