Definition: comb

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

comb
     n 1: a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge;
          disentangles or arranges hair
     2: the fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and
        other gallinaceous birds [syn: cockscomb, coxcomb]
     3: a fleshy and deeply serrated outgrowth atop the heads of
        certain birds especially domestic fowl
     4: any of several tools for straightening fibers
     5: ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore
     6: the act of drawing a comb through hair; "his hair needed a
        comb" [syn: combing]
     v 1: straighten with a comb; "comb your hair"; "comb the wool"
     2: search thoroughly; "They combed the area for the missing
        child" [syn: ransack]
     3: of hair [syn: comb out, disentangle]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

         Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright.
                                                  --Shak.
Comb \Comb\ (?; 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.

   2. An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and
      smoothing their coats; a currycomb.

   3. (Manuf. & Mech.)
      (a) A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing
          wool, flax, hair, etc.
      (b) The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding
          machine.
      (c) A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat
          manufacturing for hardening the soft fiber into a bat.
      (d) A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in
          a lathe; a chaser.
      (e) The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
      (f) The collector of an electrical machine, usually
          resembling a comb.
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.
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.] --Buckland.

         A gradual rise the shelving combe Displayed. --Southey.
Comb \Comb\, n.
   A dry measure. See Coomb.
Coomb \Coomb\, n. [AS. cumb a liquid measure, perh. from LL.
   cumba boat, tomb of stone, fr. Gr. ? hollow of a vessel, cup,
   boat, but cf. G. kumpf bowl.]
   A dry measure of four bushels, or half a quarter. [Written
   also comb.]