Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

combe

noun
\ ˈküm How to pronounce combe (audio) , ˈkōm How to pronounce combe (audio) \
variants: or less commonly or coomb \ ˈküm How to pronounce coomb (audio) \

Definition of combe

1 British : a deep narrow valley
2 British : a valley or basin on the flank of a hill

First Known Use of combe

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for combe

Middle English coumbe, cumbe, from Old English cumb, of Celt origin; akin to Welsh cwm valley

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about combe

Statistics for combe

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for combe

The first known use of combe was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

More from Merriam-Webster on combe

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with combe

Comments on combe

What made you want to look up combe? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

intoxicate

Listen to the pronounciation of intoxicate

to affect and impair by alcohol or a drug

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games