swab (redirected from swabs)

swab also swob  (swb)

n.

1.

a. A small piece of absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or wire and used for cleansing or applying medicine.

b. A specimen of mucus or other material removed with a swab.

2. A sponge or patch of absorbent material used to clean the bore of a firearm or cannon.

3. A mop used for cleaning floors or decks.

4. Slang A sailor.

5. Slang A lout.

tr.v. swabbed also swobbed, swab·bing also swob·bing, swabs also swobs

1. To use a swab on.

2. To clean with a swab.

3. To take a specimen from (a person) using a swab.

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[Back-formation from swabber, mop for a ship's deck (from obsolete Dutch *zwabber, from zwabben, to mop) or from obsolete Dutch swabbe, mop (from Middle Dutch).]

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swab

Noun

Med a small piece of cotton wool used for applying medication or cleansing a wound

Verb

[swabbing, swabbed]

1. to clean or apply medication to (a wound) with a swab

2. to clean (the deck of a ship) with a mop [probably from Middle Dutch swabbe mop]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	swab - implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
	2.	swab - cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors mop, swob cleaning device, cleaning equipment, cleaning implement - any of a large class of implements used for cleaning dry mop, dust mop, dustmop - a dry swab for dusting floors mop handle - the handle of a mop sponge mop - a wet mop with a sponge as the absorbent
Verb	1.	swab - wash with a swab or a mop; "swab the ship's decks" swob mop, mop up, wipe up - to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop; "Mop the hallway now"; "He mopped her forehead with a towel"
	2.	swab - apply (usually a liquid) to a surface; "dab the wall with paint" dab, swob apply, put on - apply to a surface; "She applied paint to the back of the house"; "Put on make-up!"

Translations

swab [swɔb] n (MED) → algodón m; frotis m inv

vt (NAUT) (also: swab down) → limpiar, fregar

swab [swɔb] n (Med) → tampon m; prélèvement m

vt (Naut) (also: swab down) → nettoyer

swab [swɔb] n (Med) → Tupfer m

vt (Naut) (also: swab down) → wischen

swab [swɔb] n (MED) → tampone m

vt (NAUT) (also: swab down) → radazzare