pectinate

Sometimes pec·ti·nat·ed

[pek-tuh-neyt]

adjective

1. formed into or having closely parallel, toothlike projections that resemble the teeth of a comb.

pectinate

/ ˈpɛktɪˌneɪt /

adjective

1. shaped like a comb

   pectinate antennae

Other Word Forms

• pectinately adverb
• pectination noun
• subpectinate adjective
• subpectinated adjective
• subpectination noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pectinate¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin pectinātus, past participle of pectināre “to comb, rake” equivalent to pectin-, stem of pecten “comb, rake” + -ātus past participle suffix; pecten, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pectinate¹

C18: from Latin pectinātus combed; see _pecten

Example Sentences

Previous analyses have tended to arrange parvipelvians in a pectinate arrangement: that is, where each taxon represents an additional step on a phylogenetic tree that has ophthalmosaurids at its ‘tip’.

From Scientific American

Spikes pectinate, of very many spikelets, oblong or linear, very dense, solitary and terminal or few in a raceme; sterile flowers 1–3 on a short pedicel, neutral, consisting of 1–3 scales and awns.

From Project Gutenberg

Bill usually straight and sharply pointed; lores naked; head feathered; tarsus with transverse scales; middle toe-nail pectinate or with a comblike edge.

From Project Gutenberg

The Rhipidophoridae are beetles with, short elytra, the feelers pectinate in the males and serrate in the females.

From Project Gutenberg

The margin is thin and marked by deep furrows and ridges, so that it is deeply striate, or the terms sulcate or pectinate sulcate are used to express the character of the margin.

From Project Gutenberg