WordGarden.iocomb
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˈəʊm/
US
- /ˈkoʊm/
Meanings
Noun
a toothed tool, especially one used to arrange hair
the fleshy crest on the head of a rooster or similar bird
a mass of wax cells built by bees
Verb
to arrange, untangle, or clean hair or fibers with a comb
to search through something carefully and thoroughly
Beyond the definition
A comb is most often the toothed tool used for grooming hair. It helps separate hair strands, untangle knots, and make a style neat and tidy. The same word is also used for a honeycomb, the wax structure bees build in their hives with many small cells to hold honey and raise young.
You can also use comb as a verb. When you comb through documents, papers, or even a crowd, you mean to look through everything carefully and in detail. It works like the tool moving through tangled hair, slowly and thoroughly.
The word comb has both noun and verb uses, and they all share one idea: making order out of something messy. As a noun, it is the row of teeth used to clean, arrange, and untangle hair. As another noun, a comb is the wax grid built by bees, with many repeating cells where honey is stored and larvae are raised.
As a verb, to comb means to run a comb (or your fingers) through hair. In a wider sense, it can mean to examine something thoroughly: you can comb through old photos, notes, files, or sand on a beach when searching for what is missing. In each case, it is about careful, repeated checking, not just quick looking.
Examples
- 1
Everyday grooming
I need a comb before I leave for work.
- 2
Hair grooming
He combed his hair carefully in front of the mirror.
- 3
After shower
She ran a comb through her son's wet hair after his shower.
- 4
Police search
The police combed the park for any sign of the missing child.
- Patterncomb + place for + thing
search an area very carefully
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Digital search
I spent an hour combing through my emails to find the booking number.
- Patterncomb through + information
search carefully through a lot of information
- 6
Careful checking
We checked the contract with a fine-tooth comb before signing it.
- Phrasewith a fine-tooth comb
very carefully, looking for small problems
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- combnounverb
Forms
- combspluralnounverb
- combing-ing formverbnoun
- combedpast tenseverbnoun