comb

[ kohm ]

/ koʊm /

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noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to roll over or break at the crest, as a wave.

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Origin of comb

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English comb, camb; cognate with Old High German kamb (German Kamm ), Old Norse kambr, Greek gómphos “pin, peg,” gomphíos “molar tooth,” Slavic (Polish) ząb “tooth,” Tocharian A kam “tooth”; see cam¹, kempt

OTHER WORDS FROM comb

comb·less, adjectivecomb·less·ness, nounun·combed, adjectivewell-combed, adjective

Other definitions for comb (2 of 2)

comb.

abbreviation

combination.

combined.

combining.

combustion.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use comb in a sentence

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|DAILY BEAST
Upon landing, he was reportedly spotted wandering the tarmac with only a comb in his pocket.
How to Hitchhike a Plane—and Survive|Kent Sepkowitz|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I ask Cuco how The Verne Club gets illegal, over-proof alcohol like absinthe through the fine-toothed comb of Argentine customs.
The Absinthe-Minded Porteños of Buenos Aires|Jeff Campagna|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

In the script, David wrote that he wanted the character Christian Bale played to have a comb-over.
The ‘American Hustle’ Style Guide|Erin Cunningham|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He leaves orders that these fellers behind are t' comb the country till he calls 'em off.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
His hair relieved this somewhat, for it was white and always stood gaily on end, defying brush and comb.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The 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 Anderson
The 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 France
The 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

comb

/ (kəʊm) /

noun

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

verb

(tr) to use a comb on

(when tr, often foll by through) to search or inspect with great carethe police combed the woods

Word Origin for comb

Old English camb; related to Old Norse kambr, Old High German camb

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

comb

see fine-tooth comb.

comb

Origin of comb

OTHER WORDS FROM comb

Other definitions for comb (2 of 2)

Words related to comb

How to use comb in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for comb

Word Origin for comb

Other Idioms and Phrases with comb