noun
comb
kohm
noun
1
A flat toothed tool used for untangling, styling, or holding hair in place.
"She ran a comb through her wet hair before leaving the house."
2
The fleshy red crest on top of a rooster's or hen's head.
"The prize rooster had a bright red comb and glossy black feathers."
3
The structure of six-sided wax cells bees build to store honey and raise their young; a honeycomb.
"The beekeeper carefully lifted a frame heavy with comb."
verb
1
To groom hair or fur with a comb.
"He combed his hair flat before the interview."
2
To search an area thoroughly and systematically.
"Police combed the woods for hours looking for the missing hiker."
"We combed through hundreds of old photos to find the right one."
How to Use Comb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toothed tool for hair, a rooster's crest, or (as a verb) to search something carefully and thoroughly.
Common pairings
comb through
comb your hair
honeycomb
Word Forms
combed past tense, combs plural, combs singular
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Etymology
From Old English camb, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "tooth" — the same root behind the word "cam" in mechanics.