comb through
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle through
Meanings
Search very thoroughly
Why “through”? You check each part from start to finish.
“They combed through the data for clues.”
“The police combed through the garden for clues.”
Test yourself
“They combed through the data for clues.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
browse through
Same through pattern: examination
Look casually through items on display
flick through
Same through pattern: examination
Look quickly at the pages of a book or magazine
flip through
Same through pattern: examination
Skim by turning pages quickly
go through
Same through pattern: examination
Travel from one side to the other; Examine something carefully; Experience a difficult time; Be officially approved, accepted, or completed; Use up a quantity of something quickly; Practice something step by step; Do something you planned, even when it is difficult
leaf through
Same through pattern: examination
Turn pages briefly to inspect
look through
Same through pattern: examination
Examine the contents of something quickly; Pretend not to see someone you know
read through
Same through pattern: examination
Read from start to finish
rifle through
Same through pattern: examination
Search through things quickly and untidily
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