tooth comb

Fine-tined grooming tool

A tooth comb is a comb with fine, closely spaced teeth, used for detailed grooming or removing lice and nits from hair.

The phrase appears most often in fine-tooth comb or fine-toothed comb, meaning a tool for thorough, meticulous examination: We went over the contract with a fine-tooth comb.

scrutiny

meticulous

Showing extreme attention to detail

thoroughComplete in every detail
examinationMethodical assessment or review
inspectionFormal assessment of condition

investigation · analysis · audit · review · vetting · probe · dissection · painstaking · exhaustive · systematic

grooming

detangler

Hair-smoothing product

bristlesCoarse animal hairs
hairbrushBristled styling tool
stylingArranging for appearance

parting · sectioning · detangle · untangle · tresses · locks · salon · barber · coiffure · lice

Opposites

tooth spacing/density

tooth combwide-tooth comb

Sparse-tined hair grooming implement

detangling comb · detangler · pick comb · styling comb

thoroughness of examination

tooth combquick scan

Brief, surface-level examination

once-over · skim · broad strokes · quick look · gloss over

Family

tooth, comb, teeth, toothed, toothless, toothy, combed, combing, combs

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G