# Combs

/ˈkoʊmz/ (US) · /kˈəʊmz/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/combs
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

flat tools with a row of thin teeth that you use to tidy or style your hair. They can be made of plastic, wood, or metal.

For teachers: toothed implements used for untangling, cleaning, or arranging hair or other fibres. Often used in the plural when referring to a collection of such tools or the act of grooming.

## Examples

- She keeps several plastic combs in her bathroom drawer.
- The barber uses different combs to guide his scissors while tapering the hair at the back of the neck.
- Archaeologists frequently discover ornate combs made of bone or ivory, which suggests that hair grooming has been a significant social ritual across many ancient civilisations.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He uses a combs" but "He uses a comb" — Learners often treat the plural 'combs' as a singular noun because of the final 's' sound.

## Usage notes

- Plural form of the noun 'comb'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.