Definition

1. Noun:

   • A toothed device for arranging or cleaning hair: A flat object with a row of thin teeth, used to tidy, style, or detangle hair.
   • A fleshy crest on the head of a bird: The red, fleshy growth on top of the head of a chicken or similar bird.
   • A tool for straightening fibers: A device used in textile processing to align fibers like wool or flax.
   • The act of using a comb: The process of drawing a comb through hair.

2. Verb:

   • To arrange or tidy with a comb: To use a comb to make hair neat, smooth, or untangled.
   • To search thoroughly: To examine an area meticulously and systematically in search of something.
   • To straighten fibers: To use a tool to align and prepare textile fibers.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She used a wooden comb to detangle her wet hair.
  • The rooster's bright red comb stood tall on its head.
  • The wool was prepared using a special comb.

• Verb:

  • You should comb your hair before the interview.
  • Police combed the forest for any clues.
  • The workers comb the raw cotton to remove impurities.

Advanced Usage

• "To comb through": To examine something very carefully and in detail.

  • Researchers combed through thousands of documents to find the evidence.

• "To comb out": To remove tangles or knots from hair; figuratively, to remove unwanted elements through a thorough process.

  • It took an hour to comb out the knots from her long hair.
  • The new manager promised to comb out inefficiencies in the department.

Variants and Related Words

• Combing (n): The act or process of using a comb.

  • Regular combing helps distribute natural oils in your hair.

• Comber (n): A person or machine that combs fibers; a long, rolling wave.

• Comb-like (adj): Resembling a comb in shape or structure.
  • The shrimp has comb-like appendages.

Synonyms

• Noun (Hair tool): Hairbrush (note: a brush has bristles, a comb has teeth).
• Verb (To tidy hair): Groom, neaten, brush.
• Verb (To search): Scour, ransack, screen.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Comb out: To remove by thorough searching or sorting.

  • The army unit was combed out for the most experienced soldiers.

• Comb over: To style hair from one side of the head across a bald area.

  • He tried to comb over his thinning hair.

Related Idioms

• To cut someone's comb: (Archaic) To humble or deflate someone's pride.

  • His early defeat in the competition really cut his comb.

• Fine-tooth comb: Used to describe an extremely thorough and detailed examination.

  • Go over the contract with a fine-tooth comb before you sign it.

Noun

1. the act of drawing a comb through hair
   • his hair needed a comb
2. ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore
3. any of several tools for straightening fibers
4. the fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds
5. a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair

Verb

1. smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb
   • comb your hair before dinner
   • comb the wool
2. search thoroughly
   • They combed the area for the missing child
3. straighten with a comb
   • comb your hair