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.
Phrases and idioms:
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).
Derivatives:
combed adj.
Etymology: OE camb f. Gmc