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coma2

Syllabification: (co·ma)
Pronunciation: /ˈkōmə/

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Definition of coma

noun (plural comae /ˈkōmē/)

Astronomy
  • a diffuse cloud of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus of a comet.
  • Optics aberration that causes the image of an off-axis point to be flared like a comet.

Origin:

early 17th century (as a botanical term): via Latin from Greek komē 'hair of the head'

coma in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of coma in the British & World English dictionary