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

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes by a debris field left behind by those asteroids and comets. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Unlike most meteor showers, the Geminid meteor shower doesn't originate from a comet but from an asteroid. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024

Unlike most meteor showers that emanate from a comet, the Geminids originate from an asteroid – asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1983. —Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

However, other factors can also generate tsunamis, including underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, certain weather events, and potentially even asteroid or comet impacts. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 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