comb
a toothed strip of plastic, hard rubber, bone, wood, or metal, used for arranging the hair, untangling it, or holding it in place.
a currycomb.
any comblike instrument, object, or formation.
the fleshy, more or less serrated outgrowth on the head of certain gallinaceous birds, especially the domestic fowl.
something resembling or suggesting this, as the crest of a wave.
a honeycomb, or any similar group of cells.
a machine for separating choice cotton or wool fibers from noil.
a comblike instrument for imparting a grainlike finish to a painted surface.
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a ridge of a roof.
a series of springlike prongs projecting from a spine, usually of plastic, for making a loose-leaf binding.
a trowel having a notched edge for applying adhesives in setting tiles or the like.
Armor. a ridge along the top of a helmet, especially of the morion.
Masonry. drag (def. 34).
the upper edge of the buttstock of a rifle or shotgun.
to arrange or adorn (the hair) with a comb.
to use (something) in the manner of a comb: She was slowly combing her fingers through her hair.
to remove (anything undesirable) with or as if with a comb: She combed the snarls out of her hair. They combed the cowards from the group.
to search everywhere in: He combed the files for the missing letter.
to separate (textile fibers) with a comb.
to scrape with or as with a comb.
to sweep across; rake: High winds combed the seacoast.
to roll over or break at the crest, as a wave.
Origin of comb
1Other words from comb
- comb·less, adjective
- comb·less·ness, noun
- un·combed, adjective
- well-combed, adjective
Words Nearby comb
Other definitions for comb. (2 of 2)
combination.
combined.
combining.
combustion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use comb in a sentence
These can be a bit sturdier than an individual, adjustable guide comb, and often work better for longer beards.
The best beard trimmer: Shape your facial hair with ease | Carsen Joenk | January 19, 2021 | Popular-ScienceSo a frequency comb in visible wavelengths might be composed of light with a wavelength of 500 nanometers, 510nm, 520nm, and so on.
One piece of optical hardware performs massively parallel AI calculations | John Timmer | January 7, 2021 | Ars TechnicaJust be careful not to mix and match the cutters and combs when you put them back together since they are arranged in matching pairs by the manufacturer.
Best electric shaver: Get a smooth shave with our picks | Jeremy Helligar | December 18, 2020 | Popular-ScienceJavidpour and her team collected comb jellies, both adults and larvae, from Kiel Fjord.
When prey get scarce, these jellies become cannibals | Erin Garcia de Jesus | June 1, 2020 | Science News For StudentsAt the same time, larval comb jellies also began to disappear.
When prey get scarce, these jellies become cannibals | Erin Garcia de Jesus | June 1, 2020 | Science News For Students
When she first launched paridust, Ehsan would comb her own closet for her artistic stylings.
She's Got the Look: How Pari Ehsan Marries Fashion and Art | Allison McNearney | August 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTUpon landing, he was reportedly spotted wandering the tarmac with only a comb in his pocket.
I ask Cuco how The Verne Club gets illegal, over-proof alcohol like absinthe through the fine-toothed comb of Argentine customs.
Impending indictment for felony comb-over rumored to have played a part in the decision.
Up to a Point: PJ on Sochi Stray Dog Stew and 1-800-F*CKYOU | P. J. O’Rourke | February 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the script, David wrote that he wanted the character Christian Bale played to have a comb-over.
He leaves orders that these fellers behind are t' comb the country till he calls 'em off.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairHis hair relieved this somewhat, for it was white and always stood gaily on end, defying brush and comb.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydThe red comb on the top of his head has teeth like a carpenter's saw, and is so large it will not stand up straight.
Seven O'Clock Stories | Robert Gordon AndersonThe poor beast has no ears left and his mane is all notched like an old broken comb; but Roger loves him.
Child Life In Town And Country | Anatole FranceThe objects in the engraving are probably the shears, comb, ladle, and an unknown instrument used for cleansing wool.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow
British Dictionary definitions for comb
/ (kəʊm) /
a toothed device of metal, plastic, wood, etc, used for disentangling or arranging hair
a tool or machine that separates, cleans, and straightens wool, cotton, etc
Australian and NZ the fixed cutter on a sheep-shearing machine
anything resembling a toothed comb in form or function
the fleshy deeply serrated outgrowth on the top of the heads of certain birds, esp the domestic fowl
anything resembling the comb of a bird
a currycomb
a honeycomb
the row of fused cilia in a ctenophore
go over with a fine-tooth comb, go over with a fine-toothed comb, go through with a fine-tooth comb or go through with a fine-toothed comb to examine very thoroughly
(tr) to use a comb on
(when tr, often foll by through) to search or inspect with great care: the police combed the woods
Origin of comb
1- See also comb out
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with comb
see fine-tooth comb.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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