comet
word
/ˈkɑmət/
KAH-mit
/kˈɒmɪt/
KO-mit
Definition
A comet is a ball of ice and dust that travels around the sun, often with a bright, glowing tail visible from Earth.
Usage & Nuances
Used mainly in scientific, educational, or astronomical contexts. Not to be confused with 'asteroid' (rocky) or 'meteor' (burns up in atmosphere). Often paired with words like 'tail,' 'visible,' 'orbit,' and 'Halley's' (famous comet).
Spanish: cometaPortuguese (BR): cometaPortuguese (PT): cometaChinese (Simplified): 彗星Chinese (Traditional): 彗星Hindi: धूमकेतुArabic: مذنبBengali: ধূমকেতুRussian: кометаJapanese: 彗星Vietnamese: sao chổiKorean: 혜성Turkish: kuyruklu yıldızUrdu: دمدار ستارہIndonesian: komet
Example Sentences
Did you catch a glimpse of the comet last night?
natural
Halley's comet only appears every 76 years.
natural
The comet has a long, bright tail.
basic
We saw a comet with a telescope.
basic
A comet orbits the sun.
basic
Scientists are studying what happens when a comet comes close to Earth.
natural