pocket comb
- noun
- She bought a colorful pocket comb to keep her hair tidy while traveling.
Examples
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I always carry a pocket comb in my bag for quick grooming during the day.
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Little pocket comb.
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One pocket comb, black plastic.
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"Keys, pocket comb, handkerchief -- white cotton.
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Little pocket comb.
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Pocket comb.
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He pulled out a pocket comb to smooth his hair before the interview.
Synonyms
A flat tool with teeth used to untangle hair and fibers
A small comb you carry in a pocket to fix your hair
How Portable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a small, portable comb designed to fit in a pocket' is directly and compositionally derived from 'pocket' (a small pouch) + 'comb' (a hair tool); the noun–noun compound straightforwardly denotes a comb sized for a pocket. This is a common, cross-linguistically transparent compounding pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The compound noun pocket comb comes from the simple idea of a comb small enough to fit in a pocket, so you can tidy your hair 'on the go'. That's why it means a small, easy-to-carry comb for quick touch-ups.