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swab

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swab something down

to wash or scrub something, such as the deck of a ship. The sailors were told to swab the deck down each day. Swab down the deck!

See also: down, swab

swab something out

to wash or wipe something out in order to make it clean. The doctor swabbed my ear out carefully. The doctor swabbed out my ear carefully.

See also: out, swab

swab something out of something

 and swab something Out

to wipe or mop something out of something. The doctor swabbed the wax out of my ear. I swabbed out the last of the mud on the floor.

See also: of, out, swab

swab down

v.

To clean a surface with a swab: The sailor swabbed down the deck. If the table is dirty, swab it down with lots of soap.

See also: down, swab

swab out

v.

To clean the inside of something with a swab: I used this cloth to swab out the rifles. The doctor swabbed my ear out.

See also: out, swab