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

Balaji advises finding a location away from city lights to catch a glimpse of the comet, using binoculars or a small telescope to see the comet in all its glory. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

During the beginning of the week, the comet will be too close to the sun to see. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025

President-elect Donald Trump’s second tour in the White House can be a glorious last hurrah or the last flicker of a dying comet. —Armstrong Williams, Orange County Register, 13 Jan. 2025

That’s so close that the comet may appear brighter than the stars. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 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

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