swab

1 of 2

noun

ˈswäb 

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

2

a

: a useless or contemptible person

b

: sailor, gob

swab

2 of 2

verb

swabbed; swabbing

transitive verb

1

: to clean with or as if with a swab

2

: to apply medication to with a swab

swabbed the wound with iodine

Synonyms of swab

Noun

• sailor
• mariner
• navigator

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

Noun

Samantha Tosch, a criminalist with the Los Angeles Police Department, testified that a swab taken from the trash bag during the search of the house contained a mixture of DNA from four people. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026

The blood on the TV stand, like other blood in the apartment, was collected on a swab and sent to a crime lab for DNA identification, detectives wrote. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026

Verb

The babies looked so similar that one of the fathers in the group, who happened to be a microbiology professor, offered to swab their cheeks, take a sample and run a DNA test. — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

Under cross-examination, Wallace said investigators did not swab or collect two chainsaws found in Burke’s garage because both tested negative for possible traces of blood. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from obsolete Dutch swabbe; akin to Low German swabber mop

Verb

back-formation from swabber

First Known Use

Noun

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swab

• cotton swab

Rhymes for swab

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob
• lob
• mob

Kids Definition

swab

1 of 2 noun

ˈswäb 

1

a

: mop entry 1 sense 1

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 noun

ˈswäb 

1

: 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