swabs
word · lemma: swab
Definition
Small sticks with absorbent material at one end, used for cleaning, applying medicine, or collecting samples (such as in medical tests).
Usage & Nuances
Most commonly refers to medical use ('cotton swabs', 'nasal swabs'), but can also mean general cleaning/applying swabs. In the plural, often used for collecting samples ('PCR swabs'). Don't confuse with 'swab the deck' (verb, nautical).
Spanish: hisopos - muestras con hisopoPortuguese (BR): cotonetes - amostras com cotonetePortuguese (PT): cotonetes - amostras com cotoneteChinese (Simplified): 棉签 - 拭子（医学取样）Chinese (Traditional): 棉花棒 - 拭子（醫學採樣）Hindi: रुई की छड़ियां - सैंपलिंग स्वैबArabic: مسحات (طبية) - أعواد قطنيةBengali: সোয়াব - তুলার কাঠিRussian: тампоны - мазкиJapanese: 綿棒 - スワブVietnamese: tăm bông - que lấy mẫuKorean: 면봉 - 스왑Turkish: pamuklu çubuk - sürüntüUrdu: روئی دار چھڑیاں - سوابIndonesian: korek kapas - swab
Example Sentences
The nurse collected two swabs for testing.
basic
Use clean swabs to clean your ear.
basic
Doctors take swabs from your mouth during a checkup.
basic
Can you bring a few extra swabs in case we run out?
natural
Covid tests usually require nasal swabs.
natural
We ran out of cotton swabs halfway through cleaning the cuts.
natural