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View synonyms for

coma

1

[ koh-muh ]

noun

plural comas.
  1. a state of prolonged unconsciousness, including a lack of response to stimuli, from which it is impossible to rouse a person.


coma

2

[ koh-muh ]

noun

plural comae
  1. Astronomy. the nebulous envelope around the nucleus of a comet.
  2. Optics. a monochromatic aberration of a lens or other optical system in which the image from a point source cannot be brought into focus, the image of a point having the shape of a comet.
  3. Botany.
    1. a tuft of silky hairs at the end of a seed.
    2. the leafy crown of a tree; cluster of leaves at the end of a stem.
    3. a terminal cluster of bracts, as in the pineapple.

coma

1

/ ˈəʊə /

noun

  1. a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused, caused by injury to the head, rupture of cerebral blood vessels, narcotics, poisons, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

coma

2

/ ˈəʊə /

noun

  1. astronomy the luminous cloud surrounding the frozen solid nucleus in the head of a comet, formed by vaporization of part of the nucleus when the comet is close to the sun
  2. botany
    1. a tuft of hairs attached to the seed coat of some seeds
    2. the terminal crown of leaves of palms and moss stems
  3. optics a type of lens defect characterized by the formation of a diffuse pear-shaped image from a point object
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

coma

1
  1. Astronomy.
    The brightly shining cloud of gas that encircles the nucleus and makes up the major portion of the head of a comet near the Sun. As a comet moves along its orbit away from the Sun, the gas and dust of the coma dissipate, leaving only the nucleus. A coma can have a diameter of up to 100,000 km (62,000 mi.).
  2. Astronomy.
    See more at comet
  3. Physics.
    A diffuse, comet-shaped image of a point source of light or radiation caused by aberration in a lens or mirror. The image appears progressively elongated with distance from the center of the field of view.

coma

2
  1. A state of deep unconsciousness, usually resulting from brain trauma or metabolic disease, in which an individual is incapable of sensing or responding to external stimuli.

coma

  1. An abnormal state of deep unconsciousness. A coma may occur as the result of trauma to the head, disease (such as meningitis , stroke , or diabetes mellitus ), or poisoning.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdz, adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of coma1

First recorded in 1640–50, coma is from the Greek word ô deep sleep

Origin of coma2

1660–70; < Latin: hair < Greek óŧ
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Word History and Origins

Origin of coma1

C17: from medical Latin, from Greek ō heavy sleep; related to Greek Ǿŧ bed, perhaps to Middle Irish cuma grief

Origin of coma2

C17: from Latin: hair of the head, from Greek dzŧ
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At Lloyd's sentencing, her husband Mark broke down in tears while describing the agony of seeing his wife in a coma with cuts and bruises to her face and body.

From

He was intubated and placed in a medically induced coma, which is a common step in treating severe smoke inhalation.

From

Arenas has been hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who first reported the crash.

From

He suffered a collapsed lung, lost 27 pints of blood, underwent 20 operations and spent 14 days in a coma.

From

Woffinden suffered multiple fractures and an injury to his chest and was put into a medically induced coma.

From

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