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

Swift receives more annual observing requests than any NASA facility except the James Webb Space Telescope, and its scientific portfolio is broad, extending to comets and planets in other solar systems. — Anna Y. Q. Ho, Scientific American, 29 June 2026

Every one of Kenny’s beats is a chunk of ore from a different comet. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

But with new information coming in from space telescopes, and astronomers eager to understand this object better, these clues are leading us closer and closer to the true origins of this strange comet. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 24 June 2026

Meteor showers occur annually or at regular intervals as Earth passes through the dusty debris left by comets and asteroids, according to NASA. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 June 2026

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