1
a
: mop
especially
: a yarn mop
b(1)
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medication or for removing material from an area
(2)
: a specimen taken with a swab
c
: a sponge or cloth patch attached to a long handle and used to clean the bore of a firearm
swabbed; swabbing
1
: to clean with or as if with a swab
2
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
Examples of swab in a Sentence
Noun
Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to disinfect the area.
The doctor took a throat swab and sent it to the lab.
Verb
The nurse swabbed the cut with a disinfectant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 June 2025
For the majority, their genetic twin is a complete stranger, which means George and others suffering from debilitating illnesses need as many people as possible to take a cheek swab test to determine compatibility.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025
New Atlas, 19 June 2025
To test it, researchers pressed on it with a finger and lightly swabbed the surface.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
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Noun
The test, according to World Boxing, can be conducted via nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 June 2025
For the majority, their genetic twin is a complete stranger, which means George and others suffering from debilitating illnesses need as many people as possible to take a cheek swab test to determine compatibility.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
To conduct their study, the researchers swabbed the ears of 209 adults, 108 of whom had Parkinson's disease.
—New Atlas, 19 June 2025
To test it, researchers pressed on it with a finger and lightly swabbed the surface.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swab. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
b
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medicine or for removing material (as from a wound)
also
: a sample taken with a swab
2
: sailor
swab
2 of 2 verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to use a swab on
Medical Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used for applying medication or for removing material from an area
2
: a specimen taken with a swab
a throat swab
swab
2 of 2 transitive verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
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