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  • comb-out
    comb-out
    noun
    a thorough combing or brushing of the hair.
  • comb out
    comb out
    verb
    to remove (tangles or knots) from (the hair) with a comb

comb-out

American  
[kohm-out] / ˈkoʊmˌaʊt /

noun

  1. a thorough combing or brushing of the hair.


comb out British  

verb

  1. to remove (tangles or knots) from (the hair) with a comb

  2. to isolate and remove for a purpose

  3. to survey carefully; examine systematically

"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

noun

  1. an act of combing 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

Etymology

Origin of comb-out

First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase comb out

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Possibly more light is due this aspect of his retrograde nature as we engage in a social comb-out.

From Washington Post Jul. 1, 2020

Vanessa washed her own hair in midafternoon, then summoned Beverly Hills Coiffeur Carrie White for a comb-out and had her add a cascading fall for greater thickness.

From Time Magazine Archive

Women who are delegates and the wives of delegates can have a free hair comb-out if they have to go on television or make some kind of appearance.

From Time Magazine Archive

At the airport, the planes were buzzing in again, bringing guests for that night's Auchincloss party and taking guests from the night before off to Manhattan for a quick comb-out before hurrying back to Newport.

From Time Magazine Archive

We are also effecting a very strict comb-out of some of the essential industries.

From Current History: A Monthly Magazine of the New York Times, May 1918 Vol. VIII, Part I, No. 2 by Various

On a recent morning, Mazzella greeted stagehand Timmy McDonough, who was brandishing a garden rake to comb out kinks in the chains.

From Washington Post Oct. 20, 2021

“There was a button to thread, a broken slipper to twist into a knot, nits to comb out, wicker fans to wipe clean. The men were out, smoking beedis and talking among themselves.”

From New York Times Feb. 12, 2021

Fortunately Amazon picked up a second season of “Carnival Row” already, granting its creators a pass to comb out the tangles, or maybe even create more fascinating ones.

From Salon Aug. 29, 2019

She reached a hand up to comb out sticky hair with her fingers, then aborted the motion as a spike of pain appeared between her eyes.

From The Verge Jun. 11, 2019

It took over two hours to comb out the knots, little by little, without hurting him.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

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