A slender rod of wood, flexible metal, or synthetic material, at one end of which is attached a pledget of cotton or other substance for making local applications to any accessible surface. [L. ap-plico, to attach to]
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ap·pli·ca·tor 'ap-lə-.kāt-ər n one that applies specif a device for applying a substance (as medicine)
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n.
any device used to apply medication or treatment to a particular part of the body.
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ap·pli·ca·tor (apґlĭ-ka″tər) an instrument for putting something (such as a remedy) onto a surface.Medical dictionary. 2011.