Library / English Dictionary

SWAB

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: swabbed    , swabbing   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

Synonyms:

mop; swab; swob

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("swab" is a kind of...):

cleaning device; cleaning equipment; cleaning implement (any of a large class of implements used for cleaning)

Meronyms (parts of "swab"):

mop handle (the handle of a mop)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "swab"):

dry mop; dust mop; dustmop (a dry swab for dusting floors)

sponge mop (a wet mop with a sponge as the absorbent)

Derivation:

swab (wash with a swab or a mop)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("swab" is a kind of...):

implement (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Derivation:

swab (apply (usually a liquid) to a surface)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Apply (usually a liquid) to a surface

Example:

dab the wall with paint

Synonyms:

dab; swab; swob

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "swab" is one way to...):

apply; put on (apply to a surface)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something with something

Sentence example:

They swab the bread with melted butter

Derivation:

swab (implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wash with a swab or a mop

Example:

swab the ship's decks

Synonyms:

swab; swob

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "swab" is one way to...):

mop; mop up; wipe up (to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

swab (cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors)

swabbing (cleaning with a mop)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Doctors is all swabs, he said; and that doctor there, why, what do he know about seafaring men?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is, he added, indicating the man with the red cap. He warn't no seaman anyhow.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

And will you tell me you'll let yourself be led away with that kind of a mess of swabs?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Well, then, you get on a horse, and go to—well, yes, I will!—to that eternal doctor swab, and tell him to pipe all hands—magistrates and sich—and he'll lay 'em aboard at the Admiral Benbow—all old Flint's crew, man and boy, all on 'em that's left.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The planks, which had not been swabbed since the mutiny, bore the print of many feet, and an empty bottle, broken by the neck, tumbled to and fro like a live thing in the scuppers.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It's been meat and drink, and man and wife, to me; and if I'm not to have my rum now I'm a poor old hulk on a lee shore, my blood'll be on you, Jim, and that doctor swab; and he ran on again for a while with curses.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)