13. A hybrid ternary content addressable memory (TCAM), comprising: a first means for comparing a first portion of a search word to a first portion of a stored word; and a second means for comparing a second portion of the search word to a second portion of the stored word when the first portion of the search word matches the first portion of the stored word, the first portion of the search word being different than the second portion of the search word, and the first means for comparing being configured as a first type TCAM and the second means for comparing being configured as a second type TCAM, the first type TCAM being different than the second type TCAM.
13. A hybrid ternary content addressable memory (TCAM), comprising: a first means for comparing a first portion of a search word to a first portion of a stored word; and a second means for comparing a second portion of the search word to a second portion of the stored word when the first portion of the search word matches the first portion of the stored word, the first portion of the search word being different than the second portion of the search word, and the first means for comparing being configured as a first type TCAM and the second means for comparing being configured as a second type TCAM, the first type TCAM being different than the second type TCAM. 15. The TCAM of claim 13 , further comprising a means for decoding mask bits and key bits at the second means for comparing during a read operation, the decoding comprising translating the mask bits and the key bits from values used for the second means for comparing to values used for the first means for comparing.