I. ˈkōm noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English camb; akin to Old High German kamb comb, Greek gomphos tooth
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a toothed instrument used especially for adjusting, cleaning, or confining hair
b. : a structure resembling such a comb ; especially : any of several toothed devices used in handling or ordering textile fibers
c. : currycomb
2.
a. : a fleshy crest on the head of the domestic chicken and other domestic birds
b. : something (as the ridge of a roof) resembling the comb of a cock
3. : honeycomb
• combed ˈkōmd adjective
• comb·like ˈkōm-ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to draw a comb through for the purpose of arranging or cleaning
2. : to pass across with a scraping or raking action
3.
a. : to eliminate (as with a comb) by a thorough going-over
b. : to search or examine systematically
police are comb ing the city
4. : to use in a combing action
intransitive verb
1. of a wave or its crest : to roll over or break into foam
2. : to make a thorough search
comb through the classified ads
III. abbreviation
1. combination; combined; combining
2. combustion