COMB

comb, combing

(noun) the act of drawing a comb through hair; “his hair needed a comb”

comb, cockscomb, coxcomb

(noun) the fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds

comb

(noun) ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore

comb

(noun) a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair

comb

(noun) any of several tools for straightening fibers

comb, comb out, disentangle

(verb) smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb; “comb your hair before dinner”; “comb the wool”

comb, ransack

(verb) search thoroughly; “They combed the area for the missing child”

comb

(verb) straighten with a comb; “comb your hair”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Noun

comb (plural combs)

A toothed implement for grooming the hair or (formerly) for keeping it in place.

A machine used in separating choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.

A fleshy growth on the top of the head of some birds and reptiles; crest.

A structure of hexagon cells made by bees for storing honey; honeycomb.

An old English measure of corn equal to the half quarter.

The top part of a gun’s stock.

The toothed plate at the top and bottom of an escalator that prevents objects getting trapped between the moving stairs and fixed landings.

(music) The main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached.

A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening soft fibre.

A toothed tool used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser.

The notched scale of a wire micrometer.

The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.

One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen in scorpions.

The curling crest of a wave; a comber.

A toothed plate used for creating wells in agar gels for electrophoresis.

(weaving) A toothed wooden pick used to push the weft thread tightly against the previous pass of thread to create a tight weave.

(algebraic geometry) A connected and reduced curve with irreducible components consisting of a smooth subcurve (called the handle) and one or more additional irreducible components (called teeth) that each intersect the handle in a single point that is unequal to the unique point of intersection for any of the other teeth.

Synonyms

• (skin on head of birds): cockscomb, crest

Coordinate terms

• (skin on head of birds): caruncle, snood, wattle

Coordinate terms

• orling

Verb

comb (third-person singular simple present combs, present participle combing, simple past and past participle combed)

(transitive, especially of hair or fur) To groom with a toothed implement; chiefly with a comb.

(transitive) To separate choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.

(transitive) To search thoroughly as if raking over an area with a comb.

(nautical, intransitive) To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.

Etymology 2

Noun

comb (plural combs)

(abbreviation) Combination.

Etymology 3

Noun

comb (plural combs)

Alternative form of combe

Anagrams

• BMOC

Source: Wiktionary

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Comb (; 110), n. Etym: [AS.. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. jambha tooth.]

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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combed; p. pr. & vb. n. Combing.]

Definition: 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, v. i. Etym: [See Comb, n., 5.] (Naut.)

Definition: To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.

Comb, Combe ( or ), n. Etym: [AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwm a dale, valley.]

Definition: 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, n.

Definition: A dry measure. See Coomb.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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