Dictionary Definition
combing n : the act of drawing a comb through
hair; "his hair needed a comb" [syn: comb]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Verb
combing- present participle of comb
Extensive Definition
Combing is a method for preparing fiber for spinning
by use of combs. The combs used have long metal teeth, and hardly
resemble the comb used on
hair. They are used in a
similar fashion though, with one comb holding the fiber while the
other is moved through, slowly transferring the fiber to the moving
comb.
Combing the fibers removes the short fibers and
arranges the fiber in a flat bundle, with all the fibers going the
same direction. This preparation is commonly used to spin a
worsted yarn. Woolen yarns cannot
be spun from fiber prepared with combs, instead the fiber must be
carded. In general,
combing is done with fibers that are longer, and carding with fibers of a shorter
length.