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Definition & Meaning of "swab"in English

Swab
01

a small, soft material used by a doctor, nurse, etc. for applying medication, cleansing a wound, or taking samples from someone’s body 

swab definition and meaning

What is a "swab"?

A swab is a small, soft piece of material typically made of cotton or another absorbent material attached to a stick or handle for easy handling. They are commonly used in medical settings to apply medications, collect samples from the body, or clean wounds. Swabs are essential tools for maintaining hygiene and diagnosing patients effectively in medical settings.

02

a mop or cleaning tool with a long handle and absorbent material on the end, used for cleaning floors 

Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
swabs
Examples
He grabbed the swab to clean up the spill in the kitchen. 
03

an act of cleansing a wound or taking samples from someone's body using a swab 

to swab
01

wash with a swab or a mop 

Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
swab
3rd person singular
swabs
Present participle
swabbing
Past simple
swabbed
Past participle
swabbed
02

apply (usually a liquid) to a surface 

03

to clean, apply medication to, or remove liquid from a wound using a swab 

Transitive
Examples
The nurse will swab the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection. 
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