swab
noun
a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
swabbing
-
present participleof swab.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nurses and doctors wore biohazard suits and three layers of medical gloves when they entered his room, swabbing him for virus up his nostrils and in other sites like his eyelids twice a day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
This year, biologists collected samples from nine sites in California, swabbing the diminutive animals’ noses and forearms, said Katrina Smith, statewide coordinator for small mammal conservation for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2024
Prof Walsh, who has studied drug-resistant superbugs for 25 years, said there “should have been intensive swabbing and staff should have been more vigilant” after the bacteria was first detected in November 2021.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
Iwasaki cautioned against the idea that people swabbing their noses with Neosporin will be a cure-all in the future.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2024
The nurse started swabbing my temples with a smelly grease.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
