swab

swab
I. noun Etymology: probably from obsolete Dutch swabbe; akin to Low German swabber mop Date: 1653 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 II. transitive verb (swabbed; swabbing) Etymology: back-formation from swabber Date: 1719 1. to clean with or as if with a swab 2. to apply medication to with a swab <
swabbed the wound with iodine
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Swab — (de swap, intercambio en inglés, pero con la b al final lleva a swab, que también en inglés es al algodón con el que recogen muestras de laboratorio, denotando la intencionalidad del certamen) es una feria de arte contemporáneo, joven y emergente …   Wikipedia Español

  • swab — swab·ber; swab·bers; swab·bie; swab; swab·by; …   English syllables

  • swab — [swäb′ēswäb] n. [contr. < SWABBER] 1. a yarn mop, usually used wet, for cleaning decks, floors, etc. 2. a) a small piece of cotton, cloth, sponge, etc. used to apply medicine to, or clean discharged matter from, the throat, mouth, etc. b)… …   English World dictionary

  • Swab — Swab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swabbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swabbing}.] [See {Swabber}, n.] To clean with a mop or swab; to wipe when very wet, as after washing; as, to swab the desk of a ship. [Spelt also {swob}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swab — ► NOUN 1) an absorbent pad used for cleaning wounds or applying medication. 2) a specimen of a bodily secretion taken with a swab. 3) a mop or other absorbent device for cleaning or mopping up. 4) archaic a contemptible person. ► VERB (swabbed,… …   English terms dictionary

  • Swab — Swab, n. [Written also swob.] 1. A kind of mop for cleaning floors, the desks of vessels, etc., esp. one made of rope yarns or threads. [1913 Webster] 2. A bit of sponge, cloth, or the like, fastened to a handle, for cleansing the mouth of a sick …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • swab|by — or swab|bie «SWOB ee», noun, plural bies. U.S. Slang. a sailor of enlisted rank; gob …   Useful english dictionary

  • swab- — *swab , *swap germ.?, Verb: nhd. kehren ( Verb) (2), fegen; ne. sweep; Hinweis: s. *swōbala ; Etymologie: s. ing. *su̯ep (2), *sup , *su̯eb ?, Verb, werfen, schleudern, schütten …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • swab — A wad of cotton, gauze, or other absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or clamp, used for applying or removing a substance from a surface. * * * swab swäb n 1) a wad of absorbent material usu. wound around one end of a small stick and …   Medical dictionary

  • Swab. — 1. Swabia. 2. Swabian. * * * swab «swob», noun, verb, swabbed, swab|bing. –n. 1. a long handled mop for cleaning decks, floors, and the like. 2. a bit of sponge, cloth, or cotton for cleansing some part of the body or for applying medicine to it …   Useful english dictionary

  • swab — /swob/, n., v., swabbed, swabbing. n. 1. a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc. 2. a bit of sponge, cloth, cotton, or the like, sometimes fixed to a stick, for cleansing the mouth of a sick person or for applying… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”