noun Comb n. 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. 4.(Zool.) (a)The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red. (b)One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of scorpions. 5.The curling crest of a wave. 6.The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb. "A comb of honey." "When the bee doth leave her comb." 7.The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
Combe, Comb n. (Written also coombe) That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it. "A gradual rise the shelving combe Displayed."
Comb n. A dry measure. See Coomb.
Coomb n. (Written also comb) A dry measure of four bushels, or half a quarter.
verb Comb v. t. (past & past part. combed; pres. part. 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."
Comb v. i. (Naut.) To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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