Pronunciation: [swˈɒb] (IPA) 
The word "swab" is commonly used in medicine to describe the act of taking a sample from a patient's body. It is spelled with the letters s, w, a, and b, with the stress on the first syllable. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the pronunciation of "swab" is transcribed as /swɑb/, where /s/ represents the "s" sound, /w/ represents the "w" sound, and /ɑ/ represents the "a" sound in "father". The final letter, "b", is silent.
A swab is a small, soft, absorbent piece of material, often made of cotton or other fibrous substances, used for various purposes. It is typically shaped like a small cylinder or ball attached to a thin handle or stick.
In medical contexts, a swab is often used to collect samples from different parts of the body for testing or analysis. For instance, a healthcare professional might use a swab to collect cells or secretions from the throat, nose, or wounds to diagnose infections, identify pathogens, or conduct genetic testing.
Swabs are also commonly used in cleaning and maintenance tasks. They are often soaked in cleaning solutions or antiseptic agents and used to wipe or apply these substances onto surfaces. They can be utilized to clean wounds, sanitize instruments, or remove debris and excess fluids during medical procedures.
In a broader context, the word "swab" can refer to any act of cleaning, wiping, or applying a substance using a swab. It can be used as a verb, e.g., "swabbing the floor" or "swabbing the wound."
Overall, the term "swab" refers to a versatile tool that is widely employed in medical, laboratory, and cleaning settings for collecting samples, applying medications or cleaning agents, and maintaining cleanliness.
A tuft of cotton, ball of gauze, or the like attached to the end of a stick or wire; used for cleansing cavities, applying remedies to the walls of cavities, or getting a bit of secretion for bacteriological examination.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• A mop made of unravelled rope, used on shipboard for cleaning the decks; a mop for cleaning floors.
• To clean or dry with a mop.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "swab" originated from the Middle English term "swabbe", which referred to a sailor or pirate who worked as a swabber. A "swabber" was an individual responsible for cleaning the decks of a ship. The word can be traced back to the Old French term "esoube", meaning "sweeping cloth" or "mop". It further evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "swabbōną", which meant "to clean".
