pectinate

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛktəneɪt/

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Pectinate antenna of a lappet moth.

Borrowed from Latin pectinātus (“combed”), from pectinō (“I comb”), from pecten (“comb”). First attested in the mid-18th century.[1]

pectinate (not comparable)

1. Resembling a comb.

   Synonym: pectinated

   1. (anatomy, zoology, botany) Having narrow ridges or projections aligned close together like the teeth of a comb.

      The moth's antennae were pectinate in shape, set with long teeth along one edge only.

   2. (mycology) Striate.

pectinate (third-person singular simple present pectinates, present participle pectinating, simple past and past participle pectinated)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To fit together in an alternating manner; to interlock or interdigitate.
   • 1646, Thomas Browne, “Compendiouſly of many queſtionable cuſtomes, opinions, pictures, practiſes, and popular obſervations”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 5th book, paragraph 9, page 266:

     To ſet croſſe legg’d, or with our fingers pectinated or ſhut together is accounted bad, and friends will perſwade us from it.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

pectinate (plural pectinates)

1. (chemistry) An ester or salt formed of pectinic acid.

• Epictetan

pectināte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of pectinō