How to pronounce toothcomb
Say it like TOOTH-kohm. Toothcomb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOOTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce toothcomb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOOTH
- kohm
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Toothcomb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOOTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- kohmGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of toothcomb
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: TOOTH-kohm.
What does toothcomb mean?
- A comb with finely spaced teeth, chiefly as a metaphorical means of making a thorough search.“The police went through all his possessions with a toothcomb.”
- To use a toothcomb on (something).
- To search (something) thoroughly.“The flat was toothcombed for any trace of drugs.”
- A comb-like dental structure found in the lower jaws of certain primates consisting of long, flat front teeth with microscopic grooves, which are used for grooming fur.
Where does toothcomb come from?
The noun is derived from fine toothcomb, a rebracketing of fine-tooth comb.
Questions about saying toothcomb
How do you pronounce toothcomb?
Say TOOTH-kohm. The American pronunciation is /ˈtuθˌkoʊm/. In British English it is /ˈtuːθkəʊm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in toothcomb?
Toothcomb has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOOTH). Broken into parts: TOOTH · kohm.
Is toothcomb pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈtuːθkəʊm/ (TOOTH-kohm).