1. small pieces of cotton or other absorbent material on sticks, used for cleaning or applying medicine
2. samples collected using swabs for medical testing
3. sailors or naval personnel
Usage: nautical; informal

1. cleans or takes a sample from something using a swab

Examples

• The nurse used cotton swabs to clean the wound.
• She collected throat swabs from patients with flu symptoms.
• The doctor swabs the patient’s throat to test for strep.
• Keep cotton swabs away from small children.
• The lab technician carefully labeled all the swabs.
• He swabs the deck every morning before sunrise.
• The old swabs shared stories of their adventures at sea.