swab
To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swabTo use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.
» The crew swabbed the deck clean.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
1 sensesTo use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.
swab the deck of a ship
putzen, abputzen, wischen
вытира́тьvytirátʹ, чи́ститьčístitʹ
wash with a swab or a mop
Examples
22 sentencesThe crew swabbed the deck clean.
The sailors are swabbing the deck.
ruМатросы драят палубу. — nina99nv
deDie Matrosen schrubben das Deck. — Yorwba
I clean my ears using cotton swabs.
ruЯ чищу уши ватными палочками. — odexed
deIch reinige meine Ohren mit Wattestäbchen. — Yorwba
It seems to be a swab for the cannon.
deEs scheint ein Schrubber für die Kanone zu sein. — Yorwba
Tom regularly cleaned his ears out with cotton swabs.
ruТом регулярно прочищал уши ватными палочками. — Ooneykcall
Translations
2 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle EMid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle English swabber (“sailor detailed to swab decks”), from Middle Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning 'splash' or 'sway', also found as nautical German Schwabber and Volga German Schwabber ("scrubber, mop, swab")
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
swabs, swabbing, swabbed, swabbedSynonyms
2 synonyms- wash with a swab or a mop:swob
- apply (usually a liquid) to a surface:dabswob
Word family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle