comb, combing
(noun) the act of drawing a comb through hair; “his hair needed a comb”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
combing
present participle of comb
combing (plural combings)
The act by which something is combed.
(in the plural) Individual hairs that drop out when the hair is combed.
Source: Wiktionary
Comb"ing, n.
1. The act or process of using a comb or a number of combs; as, the combing of one's hair; the combing of wool.
Note: The process of combing is used in straightening wool of long staple; short wool is carded.
2. pl. (a) That which is caught or collected with a comb, as loose, tangled hair. (b) Hair arranged to be worn on the head. The baldness, thinness, and . . . deformity of their hair is supplied by borders and combings. Jer. Taylor. (c) (Naut.)
Definition: See Coamings. Combing machine (Textile Manuf.), a machine for combing wool, flax, cotton, etc., and separating the longer and more valuable fiber from the shorter. See also Carding machine, under Carding.
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
22 June 2025
(noun) an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
