411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Q-tip
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Alternative forms
en q-tip
Etymology
American genericization from the brand name coined (and registered as the trademark "Q-TIPS") by Unilever; see en tip. Q stands for en quality.
Pronunciation
en LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Q-tip.wav US
Noun
A cotton swab consisting of short, thin, flexible plastic rods with a swab of cotton/cotton wool at each end; they are typically used for cleaning the ears and other hard-to-reach places.
Verb
To clean with a Q-tip.
en 2013 Margaret Atwood MaddAddam Bloomsbury 310 He disposed of his black outfit, doomed to incineration, and took a quick antimicrobial-enhanced shower lathering his face, sanctifying his pits, and Q-tipping his pointy ears.
Synonyms
en cotton wool bud UK
Translations
type of cotton swab cotton swab
Further reading
cotton swab
en genericized trademarks
en Cotton