comet
KO-miht
Comet (noun) means a small body of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun and develops a glowing tail when it passes close enough for its ice to vaporize. Example: “Halley's Comet is visible from Earth roughly every 76 years.”
noun
1
A small body of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun and develops a glowing tail when it passes close enough for its ice to vaporize.
"Halley's Comet is visible from Earth roughly every 76 years."
"Crowds gathered outside to watch the comet streak across the night sky."
"A bright comet with a long tail appeared above the hills last night."
How to use comet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn icy space object that grows a bright tail as it nears the Sun.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
comet tail
passing comet
comet sighting
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Word forms
- Plural
- comets
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Halley's _____ is visible from Earth roughly every 76 years.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek kometes, "long-haired," referring to the comet's tail, which was likened to flowing hair.
Synonyms
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shooting star
icy body
☄
faxed star
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “comet” mean?
The word “comet” means a small body of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun and develops a glowing tail when it passes close enough for its ice to vaporize. In plain terms, an icy space object that grows a bright tail as it nears the Sun.
How do you pronounce “comet”?
“Comet” is pronounced KO-miht (/ˈkɒmɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “comet” in a sentence?
Here is “comet” used in a sentence: “Halley's Comet is visible from Earth roughly every 76 years.”
What is another word for “comet”?
Words with a similar meaning to “comet” include ☄ and faxed star.
What part of speech is “comet”?
“Comet” is a noun.
Where does the word “comet” come from?
The word “comet” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek kometes, "long-haired," referring to the comet's tail, which was likened to flowing hair.
Is “comet” a common word?
“Comet” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?
A comet is made mostly of ice, dust, and rock and develops a glowing tail when its ice vaporizes near the Sun, whereas an asteroid is a rockier or metallic body that does not typically form a tail. Comets also tend to follow more elongated orbits that take them far from and close to the Sun.
Why do comets have tails?
A comet grows a tail when it travels close enough to the Sun for the heat to vaporize its surface ice, releasing gas and dust into space. Solar radiation and the solar wind then push this material outward, forming the glowing tail that always points away from the Sun.
Do comets orbit the Sun like planets do?
Yes, a comet orbits the Sun, but unlike most planets its path is usually a long, stretched-out ellipse rather than a nearly circular orbit. This is why some comets are visible from Earth only once every few decades or even centuries.
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