pectinate

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛktəneɪt/

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Borrowed from Latin pectinātus (“combed”), from pectinō (“to comb”), from pecten (“comb”). First attested in the mid-18th century.^[1] By surface analysis, Latin pectin- (“comb, scallop”) +‎ -ate.

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. (ambitransitive) 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.

From pectin + -ate (“chemical suffix”).

pectinate (plural pectinates)

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

• Epictetan

pectināte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of pectinō