A small wad of cotton wool on a short, thin stick, used for cosmetic purposes or cleaning the ears.
〈英〉棉签，棉棒
Example sentencesExamples
So I popped the maximum dose of painkiller and off I toddled to the bathroom, where I cleaned my teeth, paying particular attention to the offending molar, and applied a cotton bud liberally soaked in tooth tincture.
I have always taken pride in my meticulous cleansing routine, and now have to use a cotton bud to de-fluff.
While polishing your toenails, insert a cotton bud between each toe to protect them from possible damage due to touching.
A blob of superglue applied to the plastic end of a cotton bud usually does the trick if it is placed in direct contact with the foreign body and left to dry for about a minute.
Remove mascara with a cotton bud dipped in the eye-cleansing lotion.
You could begin with something like a cotton bud or the tip of your finger.
A sample of discharge may be taken using a swab, which looks like a long cotton bud.
To camouflage spots, dip a clean cotton bud into a concealer that matches your skin tone and dot on the spot.
Then use a cotton bud and some suitable cleaning solution to clean the lens.
On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the images have been reconstructed using the humble cotton bud.
Capillary refill should be assessed by pressing with a sterile cotton bud (such as a bacteriology swab).
Whether it's a build-up of water or wax the ensuing loss of hearing can be infuriating, and it's all you can do to stop yourself sticking the dreaded cotton bud down there to clear it.
But then liquid soap was rubbed onto my head with what felt like a cross between a cotton bud and a cocktail stick.
It was a cotton bud, dosed in some sort of pungent liquid.
Cotton buds were recorded as a precipitant if the patient had used a cotton bud to clean their ears in the preceding two weeks.
As well as swimming, it can be caused by cleaning your ears too vigorously, scratching inside your ear with a cotton bud or pen, or getting hair products into your ear.
I realized my nails looked terrible so I quickly started wiping off the polish with a cotton bud.
Apply sparingly with a cotton bud, then blend with your finger.
Then smudge the lines with a cotton bud or a soft, short brush.
A common cause of blockage is when people attempt to clean the ear, for example with a cotton bud.