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 British polymath Edmond Halley, best remembered as the namesake of Halley’s comet, had foretold it. —Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

The devils comet will appear in the constellation of Taurus on April 21. —The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024

These planets are surrounded by moons, and this chaotic reshuffling would have caused countless comets and irregular moonlets to smash into Titan and other early planetary bodies. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024

The comet has experienced multiple flare-ups in the past year. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024

Astronomers said the spiral could be caused by gas getting expelled by a slow-rotating nucleus of the comet. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024

While typical asteroids and comets in the solar system orbit the Sun, ‘Oumuamua and Borisov are celestial nomads, spending most of their time wandering interstellar space. —Theo Nicitopoulos, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2024

In 2024, several comets will reach their perihelion and peak brightness. —The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024

But Schleicher recommends keeping an eye out for the comet now rather than during the eclipse. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024

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

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