What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Comb vs Pick - What's the difference?

comb | pick |

In lang=en terms the difference between comb and pick

is that comb is the main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached while pick is to peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.

In weaving terms the difference between comb and pick

is that comb is a toothed wooden pick used to push the weft thread tightly against the previous pass of thread to create a tight weave while pick is the blow that drives the shuttle, used in calculating the speed of a loom (in picks per minute); hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread.

As nouns the difference between comb and pick

is that comb is a toothed implement for grooming the hair or (formerly) for keeping it in place while pick is a tool used for digging; a pickaxe.

As verbs the difference between comb and pick

is that comb is to groom with a toothed implement; chiefly with a comb while pick is to grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.

comb

English

(Wikipedia)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A toothed implement for grooming the hair or (formerly) for keeping it in place.
  • *
  • *:There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;.
  • A machine used in separating choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
  • A fleshy growth on the top of the head of some birds and reptiles; crest.
  • A structure of hexagon cells made by bees for storing honey; honeycomb.
  • An old English measure of corn equal to the half quarter.
  • *1882 , James Edwin (Thorold Rogers), , Vol.4, p.207:
  • *:But the comb or half quarter is very general in the Eastern counties, particularly in Norfolk.
  • The top part of a gun’s stock.
  • The toothed plate at the top and bottom of an escalator that prevents objects getting trapped between the moving stairs and fixed landings.
  • (music) The main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached.
  • A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening soft fibre.
  • A toothed tool used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser.
  • The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
  • The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
  • One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen in scorpions.
  • The curling crest of a wave; a comber.
  • A toothed plate used for creating wells in agar gels for electrophoresis.
  • (weaving) A toothed wooden pick used to push the weft thread tightly against the previous pass of thread to create a tight weave.
  • Synonyms

    * (skin on head of birds) cockscomb, crest

    Coordinate terms

    * (skin on head of birds) caruncle, snood, wattle

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from "comb") * backcomb * comb-footed spider * comb jelly * combover * currycomb * drop at comb * fine-tooth comb * razor comb * Venus' comb

    Coordinate terms

    * orling

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (especially of hair or fur) To groom with a toothed implement; chiefly with a .
  • To separate choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
  • To search thoroughly as if raking over an area with a comb.
  • (nautical) To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (abbreviation) Combination.
  • Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    pick

    English

    (wikipedia pick)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.
  • A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock.
  • A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair.
  • A choice; ability to choose.
  • * Lord Lytton
  • France and Russia have the pick of our stables.
  • That which would be picked or chosen first; the best.
  • (basketball) A screen.
  • (lacrosse) An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
  • (American football) An interception.
  • (baseball) A good defensive play by an infielder.
  • (baseball) A pickoff.
  • (music) A tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar; a plectrum.
  • A pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
  • (obsolete) A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • Take down my buckler and grind the pick on 't.
  • (printing, dated) A particle of ink or paper embedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and causing a spot on a printed sheet.
  • (MacKellar)
  • (art, painting) That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
  • (weaving) The blow that drives the shuttle, used in calculating the speed of a loom (in picks per minute); hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread.
  • so many picks to an inch

    Derived terms

    * pickaxe * take one's pick * toothpick

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.
  • Don't pick at that scab.
    He picked his nose.
  • To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground.
  • It's time to pick the tomatoes.
  • To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.
  • She picked flowers in the meadow.
    to pick feathers from a fowl
  • To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.
  • to pick rags
  • To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.
  • to pick''' the teeth; to '''pick''' a bone; to '''pick''' a goose; to '''pick a pocket
  • * Shakespeare
  • Did you pick Master Slender's purse?
  • * Cowper
  • He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems / With an old tavern quill, is hungry yet.
  • To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.
  • I'll pick the one with the nicest name.
  • (cricket) To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released.
  • He didn't pick the googly, and was bowled.
  • (music) To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument.
  • He picked a tune on his banjo.
  • To open (a lock) with a wire, lock pick, etc.
  • To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
  • * Dryden
  • Why stand'st thou picking ? Is thy palate sore?
  • To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
  • To steal; to pilfer.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
  • to keep my hands from picking and stealing
  • (obsolete) To throw; to pitch.
  • * Shakespeare
  • as high as I could pick my lance
  • (dated) To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
  • To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points.
  • to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.

    Derived terms

    * a bone to pick * picky * pickpocket * nitpick * pick and choose * pick 'em * nose-picking * pick somebody's brain * pick up * pick up on * pick up where one left * pickin' and grinnin' * ripe for the picking

    See also

    * mattock 1000 English basic words ----