comet — a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust that develops a tail when near the sun
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust that develops a tail when near the sun
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɑːmɪt/
Example Sentences
- The astronomy club stayed up all night to catch a glimpse of the rare comet, but half of them fell asleep in their telescopes.
- Scientists predict that the newly discovered comet will be visible from Earth next winter.
- My grandmother thinks every comet is a sign that aliens are coming to collect overdue library books.
comet
NOUN[/ˈkɑːmɪt/]
a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust that develops a tail when near the sun
A bright comet streaks across the night sky, leaving a glowing tail behind.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originates from Greek 'kometes', literally meaning 'long-haired star'. Ancient Greeks named these celestial objects after observing their distinctive long tails, which they likened to streaming hair.
Breakdown
Greek kometes (kome, 'hair' + -etes, 'having') → Latin cometa → English comet, retaining the sense of a celestial body with a long luminous tail.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The astronomy club stayed up all night to catch a glimpse of the rare comet, but half of them fell asleep in their telescopes.”
“Scientists predict that the newly discovered comet will be visible from Earth next winter.”
“My grandmother thinks every comet is a sign that aliens are coming to collect overdue library books.”
“The comet's nucleus is composed primarily of frozen water, carbon dioxide, and other volatile compounds.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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