bandage

Everyday

1. A bandage is a strip of cloth or soft material wrapped around a part of the body to cover and protect a wound or support an injury. tree →
2. To bandage means to wrap a bandage around a part of the body. tree →

In the lessons

In first aid lessons, children learn that a bandage keeps a wound clean, presses to stop bleeding, and holds a dressing in place; it should be firm but not so tight it stops blood flow (check that fingers or toes stay warm and pink). A first aid kit has bandages and plasters. In stories a bandage shows someone has been hurt. Phrases: «put on a bandage», «wrap in a bandage», «a crêpe bandage», «a triangular bandage», «sling».

Examples

• The nurse put a bandage round my sprained ankle. tree →
• Dad bandaged my knee after I fell off my bike. tree →
• Don't wrap the bandage too tightly. tree →
• The first aid kit has bandages and plasters. tree →
• His arm was in a bandage and a sling. tree →
• The mummy in the museum was wrapped in bandages. tree →
• We practised bandaging each other in first aid club. tree →
• She took the bandage off after a week. tree →
• If Nana had been with them, she would have had a bandage round Michael’s forehead by this time. tree →

Note

Countable: «a bandage, bandages». In the US, «Band-Aid» (a brand) is a small sticky bandage, called «a plaster» in the UK, Ireland and Australia (or «sticking plaster»). A bandage that is too tight can hurt; loosen it if fingers go cold, blue or numb.