pectinate

9.9

Having thin parallel parts like the teeth of a comb

adjective
/ˈpɛktɪneɪt/

Specialized

: pectinado

Microscope analysis revealed the feather had a distinctly pectinate edge.

Examples

Many bird species have pectinate claws on their middle toes for grooming.
The pectinate leaves of the plant resemble a comb.
The fern leaves are pectinate, resembling the teeth of a comb.
Look at that pectinate structure on the insect's antenna!
The pectinate leaf margins of the fern resembled the teeth of a comb.
The pectinate structure of the coral allowed for a unique habitat for small fish.
The artist created a pectinate pattern in the sculpture, drawing attention to its intricate design.

Synonyms

comblike

vspectinate

6.0

Having many thin, parallel teeth that stick out

has the same sense but comes from a classical technical root

comb-like

vspectinate

5.0

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

has the same sense but is a single unhyphenated adjective

How Comblike

pectinate

Specialized

9.9

fimbriate

Specialized

9.9

serrated

5.4

toothed

3.9

smooth

256 1.0

Surface Forms

pectinate positive

Morphology

pectinate = pectin (opaque) = pectin + ate

Although 'pectin-' historically relates to a comb, the modern English word 'pectin' is a food polysaccharide and does not help learners derive the meaning 'comb-like'; the link is etymological but not semantically transparent for typical learners.

Etymology

Pectinate comes from the Latin word pecten, which means 'comb'. Think of a comb's many thin, regular teeth: something pectinate has narrow, side-by-side parts like those teeth, which is why we use it for edges, leaves, or claws that look like a comb.