comb¹ /kōm/

1. A toothed implement or part of a machine, for separating, arranging and cleaning hair, wool, flax, etc
2. Anything of similar form
3. An act of combing
4. The fleshy crest on the head of some birds
5. The top or crest of a wave, of a roof, or of a hill
6. A regular structure made by bees for storing honey, a honeycomb

1. To separate, arrange or clean by means of a comb or as if with a comb
2. To search methodically and thoroughly

To break with a white foam, as the top of a wave does

combed adjective

combˈer noun

1. Someone or something that combs wool, etc
2. A long foaming wave

combˈings plural noun

Hairs or wool fibres combed off

combˈless adjective

combˈwise adverb

combˈy adjective

comb jelly noun same as ctenophore (see under ctene).

combˈover noun

A vain attempt to make the most of one's dwindling resources of hair (see also comb over below)

comb out

1. To arrange (hair) by combing after rollers, etc have been removed
2. To remove (tangles, etc) from hair by combing
3. To search thoroughly for and remove (eg lice, men for military service; combˈ-out noun)

comb over

To comb long strands of hair from one side of the head over to the other to disguise a bald patch

go over with a fine-tooth(ed) comb

To examine or search thoroughly

combine /kəm-bīnˈ/

1. To join together
2. To unite chemically (with) to form a new compound
3. To bind, restrict (Shakespeare)

1. To come into close union (with)
2. To co-operate
3. To unite and form a new compound (chem)

1. A syndicate, a trust, an association of trading companies
2. A combine harvester

comˈbi noun (informal, often used attrib)

A device having more than one function

combinabilˈity noun

combīnˈable adjective

combinate /komˈbin-āt/ adjective

1. Combined
2. Betrothed (Shakespeare)

combināˈtion noun

1. The act of combining
2. Union, joining of individual things
3. Chemical union, forming a new compound
4. A motorcycle with sidecar (also called motorcycle combination)
5. A group of people united for a purpose
6. In mathematics, a possible set of a given number of things selected from a given number, irrespective of arrangement within the set (distinguished from a permutation)
7. The series of letters or numbers that must be dialled to open a combination lock

combināˈtional adjective

combināˈtions plural noun (informal short form coms or combs /komz/)

A warm undergarment covering the whole body with long sleeves and legs

comˈbinātive adjective

combinatoˈrial adjective (mathematics)

Concerned with arrangements, combinations and permutations

combinatorˈics singular noun (mathematics)

The branch of mathematics concerned with the theory and function of combinations and permutations

combinˈatory adjective

combīnedˈ adjective

combīnˈing adjective

combo /komˈbō/ noun (pl comˈbos)

1. A small jazz- or dance band
2. Any combination (informal)
3. A white man who cohabits with an Aboriginal woman (Aust)

combination lock noun

A lock used on safes, suitcases, etc, with numbered dials which must be turned in a special order a certain number of times, or to a certain number or numbers, to open it

combination oven noun

An oven that functions both as a microwave and as a conventional oven (informal short form combi)

combination room noun

At Cambridge University, a common room

combination therapy noun (medicine)

Treatment of a single form of cancer or other disease with more than one drug

combined operations plural noun (military)

Operations in which army, navy and air force work together

combine harvester noun (agriculture)

A combined harvesting and threshing machine

combining form noun

A linguistic element that is only used as part of a composite word

coomb¹, coombe, comb or combe /koom/

1. A short deep valley
2. A hollow in a hillside

coomb² or comb /koom/

An old measure of capacity = 4 bushels

• engram
• engramma
• engrammas
• engrammatic
• engrams
• en grande tenue
• en grand seigneur
• engrasp
• engrasped
• engrasping
• engrasps
• engrave
• engraved
• engraven
• engraver
• engraveries
• engravers
• engravery
• engraves
• engraving
• engravings
• engrenage
• engrenages
• engrieve
• engrieved