Swab (noun)

1. A small piece of soft material, such as a piece of cotton or a sponge, used for cleaning or applying medication.
2. A tool or device consisting of a small piece of soft material on the end of a handle, used for cleaning or applying medication.
3. A small sample of a substance taken for testing or analysis.

Origin:

From the middle english word "swabbe" meaning a mop or a cleaning tool.

Examples:

1. The nurse used a swab to clean the wound.
2. The doctor used a swab to collect a sample of the patient's throat.
3. The swab was used to collect a sample of DNA from the crime scene.
4. The swab was used to clean the surface of the microscope slide.
5. The swab was used to apply the medication to the infected area.