pledget

A nurse applies a pledget to the patient's small wound.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small compress or pad: In medicine, a "pledget" is a small, flat piece of absorbent material (such as cotton or gauze) used to clean wounds, apply medication, or absorb fluids.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The nurse placed a sterile pledget over the small cut to stop the bleeding. (A small absorbent pad used for wound care.)
  • He applied the antiseptic using a cotton pledget. (A small pad made of cotton for medical application.)

Advanced Usage

• "pledget of cotton": a specific type of pledget made from cotton.

  • She used a pledget of cotton to clean the patient's wound gently. (A small cotton pad for medical cleaning.)

• "pledget for nasal packing": in otolaryngology, a pledget may be used to control bleeding in the nasal passages.

  • The doctor inserted a pledget for nasal packing after the surgery. (A small absorbent pad placed in the nose.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pledgeting (n): the act of applying or using pledgets.
  • The process of pledgeting requires careful sterilization. (The technique of using small absorbent pads.)

Synonyms

• Compress: a pad of cloth or material applied to a wound.
• Swab: a small piece of absorbent material, often on a stick, used for cleaning or applying medicine.
• Pad: a soft, absorbent piece of material.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly associated (the word "pledget" is primarily a noun with no common phrasal verb usage).

Related Idioms

• None directly associated (the word "pledget" is a technical medical term and does not appear in common idioms).