comb´less

comb¹ «kohm», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a) a piece of metal, rubber, plastic, or bone, with teeth, used to arrange or straighten the hair, or to hold it in place: »

She ran a comb through her hair to get out the snarls.

b) = currycomb. (Cf. ↑currycomb)

2. anything shaped or used like a comb. One kind of comb cleans and takes out the tangles in wool or flax.

3. the thick, red, fleshy piece on the top of the head of chickens and some other fowls; caruncle. A rooster has a larger comb than a hen.

4. the top of a wave rolling over or breaking.

5. = honeycomb (def. 1). (Cf. ↑honeycomb)

–v.t.

1. to arrange or straighten with a comb: »

She combed her hair after coming in from the beach.

2. to take out the tangles in (wool, flax, etc.) with a comb; card.

3. to curry (a horse).

4. to scrape or rake with an action like that of a comb.

5. to search through; look everywhere in: »

We had to comb the whole city before we found our lost dog.

–v.i.

(of waves) to roll over or break at the top.

╂[Old English comb]

–comb´less, adjective.

–comb´like´, adjective.

comb² «koom, kohm», noun.

= combe. (Cf. ↑combe)

comb.,

combination.