comb
- comb
comb (
n.)
O.E. camb "
comb, crest, honeycomb" (later
Anglian comb), from
W.Gmc. *kambaz (
Cf. O.S.,
O.H.G. camb,
Ger. Kamm,
M.Du. cam,
Du. kam,
O.N. kambr),
lit. "
toothed object," from
PIE *gombhos, from
root *gembh- "
to bite, tooth" (
Cf. Gk. gomphos "
a molar tooth,"
Skt. gambha-s "
tooth"). As a verb, late 14c. (implied in
pp. kombid); replacing
O.E. cemban, which survives in
UNKEMPT (
Cf. unkempt). Related:
Combed;
combing.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
comb — comb1 [kōm] n. [ME < OE camb, comb, lit., toothed object < IE * g̑ombhos (> Sans jámbah, Gr gomphos, tooth) < base * ĝembh ,ĝombh , to bite, tooth] 1. a thin strip of hard rubber, plastic, metal, etc. with teeth, passed through the… … English World dictionary
Comb — Comb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Combed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Combing}.] 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}. [1913 Webster] Comb down his… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Comb — (k[=o]m; 110), n. [AS. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. ? a grinder tooth, Skr. jambha tooth.] 1. An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Comb — Comb, v. i. [See {Comb}, n., 5.] (Naut.) To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Comb — Comb, Combe Combe (? or ?), n. [AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwm a dale, valley.] That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it. [Written also {coombe}.]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
comb — [v1] arrange hair adjust, card, cleanse, curry, disentangle, dress, groom, hackle, hatchel, lay smooth, rasp, scrape, separate, smooth, sort, straighten, tease, untangle; concept 162 comb [v2] search by ransacking beat, beat the bushes*, examine … New thesaurus
comb — ► NOUN 1) an article with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair. 2) a device for separating and dressing textile fibres. 3) the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, especially a cock. 4) a honeycomb. ► VERB… … English terms dictionary
Comb — Comb, n. A dry measure. See {Coomb}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Comb — (spr. Kohm), englisches Getreidemaß, 100 C. = 265 preuß. Scheffel, 2 C. = 1 Imp. Quarter … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Comb — (spr. kōm oder kūm), engl. Hohlmaß, s. Coom … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon