coma

1 of 2

noun (1)

co·​ma ˈkō-mə 

1

: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison

2

: a state of mental or physical sluggishness : torpor

coma

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural comae ˈkō-ˌmē 

-ˌmī

1

: a tufted bunch (as of branches, bracts, or seed hairs)

2

: the head of a comet consisting of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus

3

: an optical aberration in which the image of a point source is a comet-shaped blur

comatic

kō-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Examples of coma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In April 2023, Foxx was hospitalized in a coma for weeks after suffering from a mystery illness. —Ashley Hume, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024

Dogs and alcohol don't mix either; alcohol poisoning can make dogs vomit and lose coordination—and even put them in a coma. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

This 2013 Hallmark film follows a woman in a coma who channels her spirit to convince people in her community to change their minds about prospective real-estate development in their town. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024

Ruth is a local fixture, but her husband has been in a coma for several years. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin, from Greek kōma deep sleep

Noun (2)

Latin, hair, from Greek komē

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing coma

• food coma

Kids Definition

coma

1 of 2 noun

co·​ma ˈkō-mə 

: a sleeplike state of unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison

coma

2 of 2 noun

plural comae -ˌmē 

-ˌmī

: the head of a comet made up of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus

Etymology

Noun

scientific Latin, from Greek kōma "deep sleep"

Noun

from Latin coma "hair," from Greek komē "hair" — related to comet

Medical Definition

coma

noun

co·​ma ˈkō-mə 

: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison