comb
B1Neutral (used in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
A flat piece of plastic, wood, or metal with a row of thin teeth, used for arranging or untangling hair.
1. (Verb) To untangle, arrange, or search through something with a comb or a similar action. 2. (Noun) A device for separating fibres (e.g., wool comb). 3. The red, fleshy growth on the head of a fowl, especially a rooster. 4. A structure of hexagonal cells made by bees for honey and larvae; honeycomb.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb sense 'to search meticulously' (e.g., comb the area) is figurative and common. The noun also refers to natural structures (honeycomb, rooster's comb) sharing a ridged or toothed appearance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Spelling identical. The verb 'comb through' is slightly more common in AmE for the 'search' sense.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
comb something (with something)comb through something (for something)comb something outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go over/through with a fine-tooth comb (examine meticulously)”
- “cut someone's comb (humble them)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear metaphorically: 'We need to comb through the data for anomalies.'
Academic
Specific use in biology (rooster's comb) or textiles (wool combing).
Everyday
Very common for personal grooming and searching.
Technical
Apiculture (honeycomb), textile manufacturing (combing machine).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She had to comb the knots out of her wet hair.
- Police are combing the woodland for clues.
American English
- He combed through the old receipts to find the right one.
- You should comb your hair before the interview.
adverb
British English
- N/A. Not standard.
American English
- N/A. Not standard.
adjective
British English
- N/A. Not standard. 'Comb-like' is the adjectival form.
American English
- N/A. Not standard. 'Comb-like' is the adjectival form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I use a comb every morning.
- Her red comb is on the table.
- The detective combed the room for evidence.
- A bee landed on the honeycomb.
- They combed through the archives, looking for the original document.
- The fabric is woven from finely combed cotton.
- Her argument was so thorough it went through the proposal with a fine-tooth comb.
- The geologists combed the outcrop for fossil specimens.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COW with a COMB in its mane, trying to comb its hair. The silent 'b' at the end is like the teeth of the comb you don't hear.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAREFUL SEARCHING IS COMBING (to comb the files), ORDER IS UNTANGLED HAIR.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'расческа' only; remember verb 'причесывать' and figurative/search senses.
- The silent 'b' is not pronounced, unlike in Russian borrowings.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the 'b' (incorrect: /koʊmb/).
- Using 'comb' for 'brush' when referring to a brush with bristles, not teeth.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'to go through the report with a fine-tooth comb', what does 'comb' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is silent. Pronounced /kəʊm/ (UK) or /koʊm/ (US).
A comb has rigid, separate teeth. A brush has many flexible bristles often mounted on a pad or block.
No. It's used for searching any area meticulously ('comb the beach'), and has specific meanings like a rooster's comb or a honeycomb.
Literally, a comb with teeth set close together for removing lice or fine debris. Figuratively, it means an extremely thorough search or examination.
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