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
To swab is to use a small piece of absorbent material on the end of a stick or wire to obtain mucus or other specimen, cleanse and area, or apply medicine
{i} large mop; (Medicine) small piece of absorbent material attached to a stick (used to administer medication, take cultures for microscopic examination, etc.)
cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors 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 wash with a swab or a mop; "swab the ship's decks
A wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used for applying medication or for removing material from an area; also, a dacron-tipped polystyrene applicator (See 827)