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
Synonyms
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
Sarah Linn, Sacramento Bee, 24 June 2024
But if a sebum swab suggested Parkinson’s in a patient with no outward signs, perhaps the patient would undergo more invasive testing.
—Scott Sayare Robert Petkoff Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 14 June 2024
Emily Davies, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
Investigators swabbed several items for DNA and sent the genetic material for analysis at the Maryland State Police forensics lab, which found that the DNA taken from his clothes matched that collected from Morin’s body.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for swab 
Noun
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to field sobriety tests, pre-arrest breath tests or cheek swabs at a DUI checkpoint, according to Shouse California Law Group.
—Sarah Linn, Sacramento Bee, 24 June 2024
But if a sebum swab suggested Parkinson’s in a patient with no outward signs, perhaps the patient would undergo more invasive testing.
—Scott Sayare Robert Petkoff Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 14 June 2024
Verb
He was not interviewed or swabbed, according to police.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
Investigators swabbed several items for DNA and sent the genetic material for analysis at the Maryland State Police forensics lab, which found that the DNA taken from his clothes matched that collected from Morin’s body.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for swab
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near swab
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swab. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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