comb

noun

1. A toothed implement:

   “There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;[…].”

2. A toothed implement:
3. A toothed implement:
4. A toothed implement:
5. A toothed implement:
6. A toothed implement:
7. A toothed implement:
8. A toothed implement:
9. A toothed implement:
10. A toothed implement:

    “Ctenophores are mostly planktonic creatures about the size and shape of a kiwi fruit or grape, bearing rows of beating "combs."”

11. A crest:

    “I also obtained here a specimen of the rare green jungle-fowl (Gallus furcatus), whose back and neck are beautifully scaled with bronzy feathers, and whose smooth-edged oval comb is of a violet purple colour, changing to green at the base.”

12. (broadly)A crest:

    “The head-dress of the Horse Grenadiers consists of a peculiar leather helmet with a comb of bear's skin passing over it from ear to ear and a long scarlet […]”

    “The armet has usually a low central cabled comb with parallel flutes on either side, occasionally there are three or five combs.”

    “The combs or elbow pieces are beautifully made, and over the right armpit is […]”

    “Charles I. (Edinburgh Castle) The Pikeman of the time of James I. was accoutred in a morion-shaped helmet with a comb of moderate size and a flat brim, […]”

13. A crest:
14. A structure of hexagon cells made by bees for storing honey; honeycomb.

    “The combs of the wild bees are found on overhanging precipices, and the only means by which they can be reached is to descend from above on narrow cane ladders just wide enough for a man’s foot, and often 300 feet to 400 feet long.”

15. The main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached.
16. A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening soft fibre.
17. An old English measure of corn equal to the half quarter.

    “But the comb or half quarter is very general in the Eastern counties, particularly in Norfolk.”

18. The curling crest of a wave; a comber.
19. A connected and reduced curve with irreducible components consisting of a smooth subcurve (called the handle) and one or more additional irreducible components (called teeth) that each intersect the handle in a single point that is unequal to the unique point of intersection for any of the other teeth.
20. (Cornwall, obsolete)A kind of vertical plate in a lode.
21. (abbreviation, alt-of, rare)Abbreviation of combination.
22. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of combe.
23. (alt-of, alternative, dialectal)Alternative form of coomb.

    “[Regarding a period of agricultural depression] Even on the good land where the farmer hadn't enough capital to look after it and have it properly drained he couldn't hold on. He'd be getting a yield of eight combs of wheat and ten combs of barley per acre. But that wasn't good enough: it gave him no leeway. This is understandable when you recollect the price of wheat at that time.”

verb

1. (transitive)Especially of hair or fur, to groom with a toothed implement, especially a comb.

   “I like the way you comb your hair / And I like those stylish clothes you wear / It's just the little things you do / That show how much you really care”

2. (transitive)To separate choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
3. (transitive)To search thoroughly as if raking over an area with a comb.

   “Police combed the field for evidence after the assault.”

4. (intransitive)To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
5. (transitive)To turn a vessel parallel to (the track of) (a torpedo) so as to reduce one's size as a target.

   “The aircraft split up so as to attack from different, preselected bearings, thus confusing the gunners and making it difficult for the ship to comb torpedo tracks.”

   “Sixteen torpedo bombers divided their attention between the two ships. Repulse combed the torpedo wakes and knocked down two of the attackers.”