A swab is a small stick with a soft cotton tip used to pick up or apply tiny amounts of liquid or material. It’s the same tool doctors use for a quick throat or nose test, and it’s also the action of wiping something with that stick.
In everyday life, people grab a swab to clean a cut, fix makeup smudges, or apply medicine to a hard-to-reach spot. During cold season, you might say, “The nurse just swabbed my throat for a strep test,” or at home, “I swabbed a little alcohol on the scratch.” It’s quick, easy, and disposable.
Meaning & Usage Examples
- “Swab” as a noun: “Pass me a cotton swab, please.”
- “Swab” as a verb: “She swabbed the inside of her ear carefully.”
Context / Common Use
Swabs show up in medicine, beauty, and household cleaning. Hospitals use sterile swabs for lab tests; makeup artists use them to perfect eyeliner; parents keep them in the first-aid kit for quick clean-ups.
Is a swab the same as a Q-tip?
Mostly, yes. “Q-tip” is a brand name; any cotton-tipped stick is a swab.
Can I reuse a swab?
No. Swabs are meant for one-time use to avoid spreading germs or dirt.
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