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comb
comb / kōm/ • n. 1. a strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair. ∎ [in sing.] an instance of untangling or arranging the hair with such a device: she gave her hair a comb. ∎ a short curved device of this type, worn by women to hold hair in place or as an ornament. 2. something resembling a comb in function or structure, in particular: ∎ a device for removing loose hair from an animal, esp. a dog or cat. ∎ a device for separating and dressing textile fibers. ∎ a row of brass points for collecting the electricity in an electrostatic generator. 3. the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, esp. a rooster. 4. short for honeycomb (sense 1). • v. [tr.] 1. untangle or arrange (the hair) by drawing a comb through it. ∎ (comb something out) remove something from the hair by drawing a comb through it. ∎ curry (a horse). 2. prepare (wool, flax, or cotton) for manufacture with a comb. ∎ [usu. as adj.] (combed) treat (a fabric) in such a way: soft combed cotton. 3. search carefully and systematically: police combed the area [intr.] his mother combed through the boxes. DERIVATIVES: comb·like / -ˌlīk/ adj. |
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Cite this article
"comb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "comb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-comb.html "comb." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-comb.html |
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comb
comb toothed implement for straightening the hair; cock's crest, which is indented or serrated OE.; flat cake of cells of wax made by bees (an exclusively Eng. use, the orig, of which is doubtful), late OE. in huniġcamb honeycomb. OE. camb, comb = OS. camb, OHG. kamb (G. kamm), ON. kambr :- Gmc. *kambaz :- IE. *gombhos, whence also Gr. gómphos, Skr. jámbha-, OSl. zōbū tooth.
Hence comb vb. XIV; repl. kemb, OE. cemban (:- Gmc. *kambjan), which survives in UNKEMPT. |
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T. F. HOAD. "comb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "comb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-comb.html T. F. HOAD. "comb." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-comb.html |
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combing
combing process that follows carding in the preparation of fibers for spinning, lays the fibers parallel, and removes noils (short fibers). The modern combing machine is a specialized carding machine. Combing produces a fine sliver suitable for drawing out and spinning into strong, smooth yarn. The process, used for long staple cottons and worsted yarn, is expensive, since up to 25% of the card sliver is eliminated. Hackling is a form of combing, often by hand, used for linen. |
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"combing." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "combing." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-combing.html "combing." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-combing.html |
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comb
comb a comb (for carding wool) is the emblem of St Blaise.
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "comb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "comb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-comb.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "comb." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-comb.html |
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comb
comb. See camp.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "comb." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "comb." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-comb.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "comb." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-comb.html |
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comb
comb
•brome, chrome, comb, Crome, dome, foam, gnome, holm, Holme, hom, home, Jerome, loam, Nome, ohm, om, roam, Rome, tome
•Guillaume • biome • Beerbohm
•radome • astrodome • Styrofoam
•megohm • Stockholm • Bornholm
•motorhome • backcomb • honeycomb
•cockscomb, coxcomb
•toothcomb • genome • gastronome
•metronome • syndrome • palindrome
•polychrome • Nichrome
•monochrome • velodrome
•hippodrome • aerodrome
•cyclostome • rhizome
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Cite this article
"comb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "comb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-comb.html "comb." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-comb.html |
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