swab /swɒb/noun 6verb 1forms 3phrases 1 noun6 •A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access. •A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns. •A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material). •A mop, especially on a ship. •(slang) A sailor; a swabby.As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is. — 1881 •(slang) A naval officer's epaulet. verb1 •To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it. — 1913 formsswabbed · swabbing · swabs Phrases with swab swab downTo clean (something, especially the deck of a ship) with a sponge or similarly absorbent material.
