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
But immediately after the crash, investigators carried out the meticulous process of swabbing the interior of the VW Polo for any forensic samples that could link the driver to that seat.
From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025
Fernandez recalls the monotony of swabbing decks before getting a job in the mess.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 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 innkeeper looks up from where he's swabbing a table.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
