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
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
He is neat and 66 well combed; his playthings, too, have been nicely tidied up, and his books are under his arm.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4) | Richard MutherFomka made his appearance, well combed and tightly buttoned up, in boots, and with the hounds.
A Sportsman's Sketches | Ivan TurgenevHis long hair was well combed, and it hung about his broad shoulders in dark brown locks.
The Thirsty Sword | Robert LeightonHe wore a helm of burnished brass, crested with a pair of golden wings; his well-combed brown hair fluttered in the breeze.
The Thirsty Sword | Robert LeightonProbably a close cut from—you know it appeared to me it was either well-combed or close cut.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15) | The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
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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