a small piece of soft material used for cleaning a cut or for taking a small amount of substance from a body, or the substance itself that can then be tested
The nurse cleaned the cut on my leg with a swab.护士用一根药签清理我腿上的伤口。
"I'm just going to take a swab of your ear," said the doctor.医生说：“我要用棉签从你耳朵里取样检查。”
US(UStrademarkQ-tip); (UKcotton bud)药签，棉花棒
a small piece of soft material on a short stick
Use a cotton swab to clean your ears.用一支棉花棒清理你的耳朵。
swab
verb[ T ]uk/swɒb/us/swɑːb/-bb-
(WASH)
（用湿布或拖把）清洗，擦洗（尤指船上的地板）
to wash a surface, especially the open, flat areas of a ship, with a wet cloth or mop
(MEDICINE)
用棉花棒清理（伤口）;用药签取下（化验标本）
to clean a cut or take a small amount of substance from a body using a small piece of soft material