q-tip

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.

Similar
cotton wool bud
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Meanings

q-tip1

nounq-tip (plural q-tips)

plural q-tips

  1. alternativeAlternative form of Q-tip.

Q-tip2

nounQ-tip (plural Q-tips)

plural Q-tips · alternative q-tip

  1. 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.
verbQ-tip (third-person singular simple present Q-tips, present participle Q-tipping, simple past and past participle Q-tipped)

present singular third person Q-tips · participle present Q-tipping · participle past Q-tipped · past Q-tipped · alternative q-tip

  1. To clean with a Q-tip.

    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.

    2013, Margaret Atwood, MaddAddam, Bloomsbury, page 310

    Synonyms: cotton wool bud

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo clean with a Q-tip.

Similar
cotton wool bud
Also see
cotton swabcotton wool bud

Origin

American genericization from the brand name coined (and registered as the trademark "Q-TIPS") by Unilever; see tip. Q stands for quality.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

q-tip. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/q-tip

MLA

“q-tip.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/q-tip. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “q-tip,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/q-tip.

Source: q-tip on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.