Comet: meaning, definitions and examples
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comet
[ ˈkɒmɪt ]
astronomy celestial body
A comet is an icy small solar system body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms up and begins to release gases, a process known as outgassing. This outgassing forms a glowing coma surrounding the nucleus and often a tail that points away from the Sun. Comets are believed to be remnants from the early solar system and provide important clues about its formation. Their orbits are typically highly elliptical, bringing them into the inner solar system only occasionally.
Synonyms
celestial object, meteoroid, space rock.
Examples of usage
- Halley's Comet appears every 76 years.
- The comet's tail was visible from Earth.
- Comets are often referred to as 'dirty snowballs'.
- Scientists study comets to learn about the solar system's origins.
Translations
Translations of the word "comet" in other languages:
🇵🇹 cometa
🇮🇳 धूमकेतु
🇩🇪 Komet
🇮🇩 komet
🇺🇦 комета
🇵🇱 kometa
🇯🇵 彗星
🇫🇷 comète
🇪🇸 cometa
🇹🇷 kuyruklu yıldız
🇰🇷 혜성
🇸🇦 مذنب
🇨🇿 kometa
🇸🇰 kométa
🇨🇳 彗星
🇸🇮 komet
🇮🇸 halastjarna
🇰🇿 комета
🇬🇪 კომეტა
🇦🇿 kometa
🇲🇽 cometa
Etymology
The word 'comet' comes from the Old French 'comète', which itself derives from the Latin 'cometa', and further traces back to the Greek word 'komētēs' (κομήτης) meaning 'long-haired', referring to the tail that comets exhibit. The Greek term is derived from 'komē' (κώμη), which means 'hair' or 'hairy'. Comets have been known since ancient times, with historical records noting their appearances and movements, often interpreted as omens. The study of comets has evolved significantly over the centuries, and with the advent of telescopes, observations became more precise. The understanding of comets transitioned from mystical interpretations to scientific classifications, and they are now known to be part of the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, structures in the solar system that harbor many such icy bodies.