n. & v.
n. 1 a toothed strip of rigid material for tidying and arranging the hair, or for keeping it in place. 2 a part of a machine having a similar design or purpose. 3 a the red fleshy crest of a fowl, esp. a cock. b an analogous growth in other birds. 4 a honeycomb.
v.tr. 1 arrange or tidy (the hair) by drawing a comb through. 2 curry (a horse). 3 dress (wool or flax) with a comb. 4 search (a place) thoroughly. comb out 1 tidy and arrange (hair) with a comb. 2 remove with a comb. 3 search or attack systematically. 4 search out and get rid of (anything unwanted). combed adj.
[ OE camb f. Gmc ]