How Do You Spell COMBLESS?

Pronunciation: [kˈə͡ʊmləs] (IPA)

Combless is a four-syllable word with the following IPA transcription: /kɒmbləs/. It consists of the root word 'comb', meaning a toothed instrument used for grooming hair, and the suffix '-less', which means without. The letter 'b' is pronounced as a voiced bilabial plosive /b/, followed by the voiced alveolar fricative /l/. The final 's' represents the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. Combless is often used to describe hair or animals without combs, and is a useful word to expand vocabulary.

COMBLESS Meaning and Definition

  1. Combless is an adjective that describes something or someone as lacking a comb. The word is formed by combining the prefix "comb-" and the suffix "-less," indicating the absence or lack of something.

    When referring to individuals, combless typically describes a person's hair or head lacking a comb or comb-like features. It may suggest that the person's hair is unkempt, disheveled, or messy, as if it has not been groomed or styled using a comb. In this context, it often implies a lack of attention to personal appearance or neatness.

    In a broader sense, combless can also refer to objects or animals that do not possess a comb-like structure. For instance, it can describe certain bird species that do not have a distinct comb on top of their heads, such as the female pheasant or quail. Additionally, combless might describe objects that are devoid of a comb's characteristic design or function, indicating that they do not have teeth or ridges typically found on a comb-like tool.

    Overall, combless is a versatile word that can describe a person's hair or an object lacking a comb or comb-like features.

  2. Wanting a comb or a crest.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for COMBLESS

Etymology of COMBLESS

The word "combless" is derived from the combination of two separate components: "comb" and "-less".

The noun "comb" originates from the Old English word "camb", which can be traced back to Proto-Germanic "kambaz" and further to the Proto-Indo-European root "*gombh-". Originally, "comb" referred to a tool with teeth used for grooming or arranging hair, feathers, or fibers.

The suffix "-less" is a morpheme added to nouns, adjectives, or verbs, indicating the absence or lack of the characteristic represented by the preceding word. It comes from the Old English "-lēas", which was derived from the Proto-Germanic "*-laisa".

Therefore, when "comb" and "-less" are combined in "combless", it means "without a comb" or "lacking a comb".

Idioms with the word COMBLESS

  • combless

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