comb Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
  2. noun the fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds
    cockscomb; coxcomb.
  3. noun any of several tools for straightening fibers
  4. noun ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore
  5. noun the act of drawing a comb through hair
    combing.
    • his hair needed a comb
  6. verb straighten with a comb
    • comb your hair
  7. verb search thoroughly
    ransack.
    • They combed the area for the missing child
  8. verb smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb
    comb out; disentangle.
    • comb your hair before dinner
    • comb the wool

WordNet

Comb noun
Etymology
AS.. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. a grinder tooth, Skr. jambha tooth.
Definitions
  1. An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
  2. An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
  3. (Manuf. & Mech.) (a) A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc. (b) The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding machine. (c) A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening the soft fiber into a bat. (d) A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser. (e) The notched scale of a wire micrometer. (f) The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
  4. (Zoöl.) (a) The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red. (b) One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of scorpions.
  5. The curling crest of a wave.
  6. The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb. "A comb of honey." Wyclif.
    When the bee doth leave her comb. Shak.
  7. The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
Comb transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Combed ; present participle & verbal noun Combing
Definitions
  1. To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See under Combing.
    Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright. Shak.
Comb intransitive verb
Etymology
See Comb, n., 5.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Comb, Combe noun (Also<
  • Comb
  • Combe
)
Etymology
AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwm a dale, valley.
Definitions
  1. That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it. Written also coombe. Buckland.
    A gradual rise the shelving combe Displayed. Southey.
Comb noun
Definitions
  1. A dry measure. See Coomb.

Webster 1913