Dictionary

comb out en · VERB

Meanings

1. (qualifier:literal, transitive) To remove (something) by combing; to thoroughly comb (something); to thoroughly comb (something) so as to remove something else from it (such as tangles, dirt, or nits).
   • I combed out the tangles in my hair. I combed them all out with that fancy comb that Ashley gave me.
   • You have to comb out the dog's coat regularly. You need to comb all the tangles out of it.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To winnow; for example, to exempt (someone) from a military draft by filtering them out of the list.
   • We've finally combed out this list by removing the newly ineligible people from it.
   • The government combed out some people from the compulsory action.

Forms

Deriveds

comb-out

Relateds

sort out · straighten out · comb through · filter out