to comb

Examples

• All

• I study myself in the mirror for a few minutes, combing my hair one way, then another.

  Fiction book (1991)

• So it would actually be easier for you to comb your hair this way.

• And then I will kind of just comb through the ends of my hair like this.

• So the same amount of the leave in, I just comb that through my hair.

  Harper's BAZAAR

• So when you comb it through, it gets all over your face.

• So I'll push my hair up, like comb it up just to show you guys.

• I'd, uh, Like to comb my hair.

  Hold Your Man (1933)

• I would comb his hair and rub it with oil.

  The Householder (1963)

• Put on clothes that fit you, comb your hair, brush your teeth.

  Bedros Keuilian

• She needs to comb her hair before the party to make it look nice.

Synonyms

U

to untangle

vsto comb

10 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

involves the same separation but specifically uses a toothed tool

C

to comb out

vsto comb

1 2.4

To remove tangles from hair or wool to make it smooth

is the shorter single-word form used for the same action

D

to disentangle

vsto comb

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

applies specifically to hair or fibers rather than to general objects

Antonyms

M

to mess up

• Informal

52 3.0

To make something untidy, dirty, or not in the right place

T

to tangle

46 3.7

To twist things together so they are hard to pull apart

Idioms

W

with a fine-tooth comb

6 4.2

Look through something very carefully to find small mistakes

Phrasal Verbs

C

to comb out

1 2.4

To remove tangles from hair or wool to make it smooth

C

to comb out

5.4

To remove unwanted parts from something after checking it carefully

Compounds

F

fine-tooth comb

• Informal

7 4.3

A careful search that finds small mistakes or details

F

fine-toothed comb

• Informal

2 4.1

A very careful check of something to find small errors

C

comb jelly

• Specialized

8.8

A small transparent sea animal like a jellyfish that moves by beating eight rows of tiny hairs

C

comb-footed spider

• Specialized

9.8

A spider with a row of short stiff hairs on each hind foot that often spins irregular webs

C

comb-like

5.0

Thin, evenly spaced parts that stick out in a row like small teeth

C

comb-out

3.9

To remove tangles from hair using a comb

C

comb-out

7.0

Removing unwanted people or things from a group

C

comb-plate

• Specialized

9.9

A row of tiny hairs joined together that some sea animals use to move

D

dematting comb

6.8

A comb with sharp teeth that removes mats and tangles from an animal's coat

F

fine-tooth comb

3.7

A comb with very close teeth used to remove lice from hair

F

fine-toothed comb

3.7

A small tool with very close teeth used to remove lice or untangle hair

P

pocket comb

2.1

A small tool with teeth used to tidy hair that fits in a pocket

W

Welsh comb

8.6

A hair comb with wide teeth from Wales used to untangle curly hair

How Thorough

to unbraid

1 7.1

to comb

77 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology