comb

A small tool with a row of teeth, used to make hair neat.

• I need a comb for my hair.
• She keeps two combs beside the mirror.
• Did you put my comb in your pocket?

Common phrases: hair comb, plastic comb, comb teeth

The soft, often red part growing on top of the head of certain birds, especially chickens.

• The rooster has a red comb.
• This breed has a small comb on its head.
• The farmer checked the hens’ combs for signs of illness.

Similar words: crest

Common phrases: red comb, rooster comb, comb shape

To make hair or fur neat using a tool with a row of teeth.

• I comb my hair every morning.
• She washed and combed the dog’s fur.
• Can you comb these tangles out of my hair?

How to use it: comb something out of something (She combed the knots out of his hair.)

Common phrases: comb your hair, comb a beard, comb out tangles

To search a place or examine material very carefully to find something.

• Police combed the beach.
• She combed through the records for his name.
• Volunteers are combing the hills for the missing child.

How to use it: comb something for someone/something (They combed the forest for the lost dog.); comb through something (I combed through the files for the receipt.)

Similar words: search, scour

Common phrases: comb an area, comb through something, comb for something, comb a field