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 comet was initially discovered in 2023 and made its closest approach to the sun in September 2024. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Feb. 2025

The object was then first reported on Dec. 27, 2024 to the Minor Planet Center, the official authority for observing and reporting new asteroids, comets and other small bodies in the solar system, according to NASA. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Related article Astronomers discover two populations of unusual dark comets in our solar system The discovery of Kamo’oalewa excited asteroid scientists who were eager to find more, but no other candidates have emerged until 2024 PT5. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025

In Zoroastrian scripture, a comet called Gochihr collides with the Earth and wreaks havoc, as comets will. —Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 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

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