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 probe will then continue toward the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS, demonstrating multi-target capability and testing autonomous navigation, anchoring, and sampling systems essential for future mining missions. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025

While the comet—first spotted in July—has spent the last few weeks on the other side of the sun from Earth, it is expected to soon become viewable again from Earth for those with large enough backyard telescopes. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

The Taurids are the result of Earth’s passing through debris left by the small comet 2P/Encke. —Gina Park, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

The object, eventually confirmed to almost certainly be a comet and named 3I/ATLAS, was later confirmed to have interstellar origins after follow-up observations. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Nov. 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