Crest vs. Comb — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 29, 2024
Crest is a peak or highest point, often used to describe a hill or wave, while a comb is a toothed tool used for arranging hair.
Difference Between Crest and Comb
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A crest is the top or highest part of something like a hill, wave, or helmet, signifying its peak or summit. Whereas, a comb primarily refers to a toothed device used for styling, cleaning, and managing hair.
The term crest also has symbolic uses, such as in family crests or heraldry, representing a coat of arms on top of a helmet. On the other hand, a comb can have various cultural significances, especially in historical contexts where combs were used as decorative hair accessories.
In zoology, a crest refers to a plume or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of many birds and animals, often used for display or attracting mates. Whereas, combs are also present in the animal kingdom; for example, the fleshy crest of a rooster, known as a comb, which is used to assert dominance and attract females.
In geography, a crest is the highest point on a mountain or hill, offering a strategic viewpoint or climatic barrier. In contrast, the structural design of a comb, with its rows of teeth, makes it effective for untangling and grooming hair, not related to geographic features.
When discussing waves, the crest is the highest point of a wave where it begins to break, often sought after by surfers. Whereas a comb, while unrelated to surfing, can metaphorically 'comb through' problems or tasks, organizing them effectively like hair.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Top or peak of something
Toothed tool for arranging hair
Symbolism
Represents height, achievement
Represents order, grooming
Usage in Nature
Plume on animals, top of waves
Part of rooster's anatomy
Cultural Significance
Heraldry, family crests
Historical hair accessories
Functionality
Symbolic, navigational aid
Practical, grooming tool
Compare with Definitions
Crest
The top or highest part of something, like a hill or wave.
The early morning hikers enjoyed the sunrise from the crest of the hill.
Comb
A toothed tool used for untangling, styling, or cleaning hair.
He used a comb to smooth his hair before the meeting.
Crest
A prominent ridge on the helmet or armor, or a distinctive device borne above the shield of a coat of arms.
The knight's helmet was adorned with a crest that featured a red dragon.
Comb
An object with a row of narrow teeth, used in various applications like beekeeping.
The beekeeper carefully extracted the comb from the hive to harvest honey.
Crest
A plume or tuft of feathers, fur, or other material on the head of a bird or other animal.
The peacock displayed its colorful crest during its courtship rituals.
Comb
A ridge on the top of the head of a bird, such as a rooster, often used to show dominance.
The rooster's bright red comb stood upright as it crowed at dawn.
Crest
A point on a wave where the wave breaks or the highest point reached by a wave.
The surfers waited for the perfect crest to ride back to shore.
Comb
Part of a machine or natural feature resembling a comb.
The old spinning wheel had a comb to guide the wool into the spindles.
Crest
A symbol of achievement or prominence.
Winning the national championship was the crest of her athletic career.
Comb
To use a comb-like tool or process to arrange or sort through something.
The detective combed through the evidence looking for clues.
Crest
A usually ornamental tuft, ridge, or similar projection on the head of a bird or other animal.
Comb
A comb is a tool consisting of a shaft that holds a row of teeth for pulling through the hair to clean, untangle, or style it. Combs have been used since prehistoric times, having been discovered in very refined forms from settlements dating back to 5,000 years ago in Persia.
Crest
An elevated, irregularly toothed ridge on the stigmas of certain flowers.
Comb
A thin toothed strip, as of plastic, used to smooth, arrange, or fasten the hair.
Crest
A ridge or an appendage on a plant part, such as on a leaf or petal.
Comb
An implement, such as one for dressing and cleansing wool or other fiber, that resembles a hair comb in shape or use.
Crest
A plume used as decoration on top of a helmet.
Comb
A currycomb.
Crest
A helmet.
Comb
The fleshy crest or ridge that grows on the crown of the head of domestic fowl and other birds and is most prominent in the male.
Crest
(Heraldry) A device placed above the shield on a coat of arms.
Comb
Something suggesting a fowl's comb in appearance or position.
Crest
A representation of such a device.
Comb
A honeycomb.
Crest
The top, as of a hill or wave.
Comb
To arrange or groom (the hair) with or as with a comb
Combed her hair with a comb.
Combed his hair with his fingers.
Crest
The highest or culminating point; the peak
The crest of a flood.
At the crest of her career.
Comb
To move through or pass across with a raking action
The wind combed the wheatfields.
Crest
The ridge on a roof.
Comb
To straighten and separate (wool or other fibers) using a comb.
Crest
To decorate or furnish with a crest.
Comb
To search thoroughly; look through
Combed the dresser drawers for a lost bracelet.
Crest
To reach the crest of
Crested the ridge.
Comb
To eliminate with or as with a comb
Combed the snarls out of his hair.
Crest
To form into a crest or crests
Waves cresting over the seawall.
Comb
To roll and break. Used of waves.
Crest
To reach a crest
The swollen river crested at 9:15.
Comb
To make a thorough search
Combed through the file for the contract.
Crest
The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
Comb
A toothed implement:
Crest
A tuft, or other natural ornament, growing on an animal's head, for example the comb of a cockerel, the swelling on the head of a snake, the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc.
Comb
A toothed implement for grooming the hair or (formerly) for keeping it in place.
Crest
The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on or displayed on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet.
Comb
A machine used in separating choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
Crest
(heraldry) A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually on a helmet above it, sometimes (as for clerics) separately above the shield or separately as a mark for plate, in letterheads, and the like.
Comb
The toothed plate at the top and bottom of an escalator that prevents objects getting trapped between the moving stairs and fixed landings.
Crest
The upper curve of a horse's neck.
Comb
A toothed tool used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser.
Crest
The ridge or top of a wave.
Comb
The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
Crest
The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage.
Comb
The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
Crest
The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc.
Comb
A toothed plate used for creating wells in agar gels for electrophoresis.
Crest
The top line of a slope or embankment.
Comb
(weaving) A toothed wooden pick used to push the weft thread tightly against the previous pass of thread to create a tight weave.
Crest
(anatomy) A ridge along the surface of a bone.
Comb
One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen in scorpions, with which they comb substrate.
Crest
(informal) A design or logo, especially one of an institution, sports club, association or high-class family.
Comb
A crest:
Crest
Any of several birds in the family Regulidae, including the goldcrests and firecrests.
Comb
A fleshy growth on the top of the head of some birds and reptiles; crest.
Crest
(intransitive) Particularly with reference to waves, to reach a peak.
Comb
(by extension) A crest (of metal, leather, etc) on a piece of armor, especially on a helmet.
Crest
(transitive) To reach the crest of (a hill or mountain)
Comb
The top part of a gun’s stock.
Crest
To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.
Comb
A structure of hexagon cells made by bees for storing honey; honeycomb.
Crest
To mark with lines or streaks like waving plumes.
Comb
(music) The main body of a harmonica containing the air chambers and to which the reed plates are attached.
Crest
A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on an animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc.
[Attack] his rising crest, and drive the serpent back.
Comb
A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening soft fibre.
Crest
The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the wearer; hence, also, the helmet.
Stooping low his lofty crest.
And on his head there stood uprightA crest, in token of a knight.
Comb
An old English measure of corn equal to the half quarter.
Crest
A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4.
Comb
The curling crest of a wave; a comber.
Crest
The upper curve of a horse's neck.
Throwing the base thong from his bending crest.
Comb
A connected and reduced curve with irreducible components consisting of a smooth subcurve (called the handle) and one or more additional irreducible components (called teeth) that each intersect the handle in a single point that is unequal to the unique point of intersection for any of the other teeth.
Crest
The ridge or top of a wave.
Like wave with crest of sparkling foam.
Comb
A kind of vertical plate in a lode.
Crest
The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
Comb
(rare) combination {{rfex}}
Crest
The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage.
Now the time is comeThat France must vail her lofty plumed crest.
Comb
Alternative form of combe
Crest
The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc.
The finials of gables and pinnacles are sometimes called crests.
Comb
(dialectal) coomb#Etymology 1
Crest
The top line of a slope or embankment.
Comb
To groom with a toothed implement, especially a comb.
I need to comb my hair before we leave the house.
Crest
To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.
His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared armCrested the world.
Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain's brow.
Comb
(transitive) To separate choice cotton fibers from worsted cloth fibers.
Crest
To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving plumes.
Like as the shining sky in summer's night, . . . Is crested with lines of fiery light.
Comb
(transitive) To search thoroughly as if raking over an area with a comb.
Police combed the field for evidence after the assault.
Crest
To form a crest.
Comb
To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Crest
The top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
Comb
To turn a vessel parallel to (the track of) (a torpedo) so as to reduce one's size as a target.
Crest
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Comb
An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
Crest
The center of a cambered road
Comb
An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
Crest
(heraldry) in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet
Comb
A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc.
Crest
A showy growth of e.g. feathers or skin on the head of a bird or other animal
Comb
The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red.
Crest
Lie at the top of;
Snow capped the mountains
Comb
The curling crest of a wave.
Crest
Reach a high point;
The river crested last night
Comb
The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb.
When the bee doth leave her comb.
Comb
The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
Comb
That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it.
A gradual rise the shelving combeDisplayed.
Comb
A dry measure. See Coomb.
Comb
To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See under Combing.
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright.
Comb
To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
Comb
A flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
Comb
The fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds
Comb
A fleshy and deeply serrated outgrowth atop the heads of certain birds especially domestic fowl
Comb
Any of several tools for straightening fibers
Comb
Ciliated comb-like swimming plate of a ctenophore
Comb
The act of drawing a comb through hair;
His hair needed a comb
Comb
Straighten with a comb;
Comb your hair
Comb the wool
Comb
Search thoroughly;
They combed the area for the missing child
Comb
Smoothen and neaten with or as with a comb;
Comb your hair before dinner
Comb the wool
Common Curiosities
What is the primary use of a crest in nature?
In nature, a crest often refers to a physical feature on an animal's head used for display or mating rituals.
How does the function of a crest differ from a comb in animals?
In animals, a crest usually serves as a display feature, while a comb (like on a rooster) can play a role in mate attraction and social hierarchy.
What are the symbolic meanings of crests in heraldry?
In heraldry, crests are symbolic elements that can represent familial lineage, professions, or personal achievements.
Is there a relationship between the crest of a wave and its potential for surfing?
Yes, the crest of a wave indicates its peak and breaking point, which are critical for surfing.
Can the term crest be used in a metaphorical sense?
Yes, "crest" can metaphorically signify reaching a high or pivotal point in various contexts, like a career.
What materials are combs commonly made from?
Combs are commonly made from plastic, metal, or wood.
What are some common materials used to make combs today?
Modern combs are typically made from plastic, metal, or wood, with some luxury versions crafted from materials like tortoiseshell or ivory.
Are crests only found on birds?
No, crests are also found on other animals, such as certain species of dinosaurs and reptiles, where they may serve similar purposes in display and communication.
In what ways are combs used outside of personal grooming?
Beyond grooming, combs can be used in machinery for processes like weaving or spinning, and in crafts for pattern making.
How can the design of a comb affect its functionality?
The spacing and size of the teeth in a comb can greatly affect its functionality, with wider teeth being better for detangling and finer teeth for styling.
Are there different types of combs for different uses?
Yes, there are various types of combs, including those designed for general hair detangling, fine styling, and even pet grooming.
How is the crest of a wave important to marine navigation?
The crest of a wave is significant in marine navigation as it helps in determining sea conditions and potential hazards for vessels.
How do crests enhance communication among animals?
Animal crests can enhance communication by signaling emotional states, intentions, or reproductive status to others.
How do crests function as part of an animal's communication?
Animal crests, like those on birds or lizards, often play crucial roles in communication, signaling health, virility, or aggression to potential mates or rivals.
Can the presence of a crest have evolutionary advantages?
Yes, crests can offer evolutionary advantages by improving an animal's attractiveness to mates or by intimidating rivals, thus enhancing reproductive success.
What historical significance do crests have in human culture?
Historically, crests were significant in heraldry, representing families or individuals in a symbolic form and used to identify warriors in battle.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
