noun

1. 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.

2. A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).

3. A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.

Synonyms: swabby

verb

1. To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

   “swab the deck of a ship”