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

• coombless
• Cmmbless

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