comet

noun

com·​et ˈkä-mət 

: a celestial body that appears as a fuzzy head usually surrounding a bright nucleus, that has a usually highly eccentric orbit, that consists primarily of ice and dust, and that often develops one or more long tails when near the sun

cometary

ˈkä-mə-ˌter-ē 

adjective

cometic

kə-ˈme-tik 

kä-

adjective

Examples of comet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The impact craters are the depressions or markings left behind after something like an asteroid or comet crashes into the moon's surface, according to NASA. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025

There are probably more visible comets in any five-year period than notable acquisitions of VC firms. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025

While there are rare comets such as Michael Floyd, the Cretin-Derham Hall receiver who went to Notre Dame and a seven-year NFL career, there are many more award winners who don’t play at the FBS level. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025

Our sky is constantly changing as the relentless passing of the seasons and movement of the planets, moon, comets and Earth itself bring an ever-shifting array of astronomical targets into view. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English comete, from Old English cometa, from Latin, from Greek komētēs, literally, long-haired, from koman to wear long hair, from komē hair

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for comet

• grommet
• vomit
• recommit

Kids Definition

comet

noun

com·​et ˈkäm-ət 

: a bright heavenly body that develops a cloudy tail as it moves closer to the sun in its orbit

Etymology

Old English cometa "comet," from Latin cometa (same meaning), from Greek komētēs, literally, "long-haired," derived from komē "hair" — related to coma entry 2