comb / kōm/ • n. 1. a strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair. ∎  [in sing.] an instance of untangling or arranging the hair with such a device: she gave her hair a comb. ∎  a short curved device of this type, worn by women to hold hair in place or as an ornament.2. something resembling a comb in function or structure, in particular: ∎ a device for removing loose hair from an animal, esp. a dog or cat. ∎  a device for separating and dressing textile fibers. ∎  a row of brass points for collecting the electricity in an electrostatic generator.3. the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, esp. a rooster.4. short for honeycomb (sense 1).• v. [tr.] 1. untangle or arrange (the hair) by drawing a comb through it. ∎  (comb something out) remove something from the hair by drawing a comb through it. ∎  curry (a horse).2. prepare (wool, flax, or cotton) for manufacture with a comb. ∎  [usu. as adj.] (combed) treat (a fabric) in such a way: soft combed cotton.3. search carefully and systematically: police combed the area [intr.] his mother combed through the boxes. DERIVATIVES: comb·like / -ˌlīk/ adj.

comb toothed implement for straightening the hair; cock's crest, which is indented or serrated OE.; flat cake of cells of wax made by bees (an exclusively Eng. use, the orig, of which is doubtful), late OE. in huniġcamb honeycomb. OE. camb, comb = OS. camb, OHG. kamb (G. kamm), ON. kambr :- Gmc. *kambaz :- IE. *gombhos, whence also Gr. gómphos, Skr. jámbha-, OSl. zōbū tooth.
Hence comb vb. XIV; repl. kemb, OE. cemban (:- Gmc. *kambjan), which survives in UNKEMPT.

comb a comb (for carding wool) is the emblem of St Blaise.

comb. See camp.