coma

1
[ koh-muh ]
/ ˈkoʊ mə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR coma ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural co·mas.

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

Origin of coma

1
First recorded in 1640–50, coma is from the Greek word kôma deep sleep

Words nearby coma

com, com-, com., com. in chf., com. ver., coma, coma aberration, coma berenices, coma scale, comaker, comal

Definition for coma (2 of 2)

coma 2
[ koh-muh ]
/ ˈkoʊ mə /

noun, plural co·mae [koh-mee] /ˈkoʊ mi/.

Astronomy. the nebulous envelope around the nucleus of a comet.
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.
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.

Origin of coma

2
1660–70; < Latin: hair < Greek kómē

Words related to coma

slumber, oblivion, stupor, trance, torpor, torpidity, lethargy, syncope, insensibility, swoon, hebetude, sleep, faint, dullness, blackout, somnolence

Example sentences from the Web for coma

British Dictionary definitions for coma (1 of 2)

coma 1
/ (ˈkəʊmə) /

noun plural -mas

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

Word Origin for coma

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

British Dictionary definitions for coma (2 of 2)

coma 2
/ (ˈkəʊmə) /

noun plural -mae (-miː)

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
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
optics a type of lens defect characterized by the formation of a diffuse pear-shaped image from a point object

Derived forms of coma

comal, adjective

Word Origin for coma

C17: from Latin: hair of the head, from Greek komē

Medical definitions for coma

coma
[ kō′mə ]

n.

A state of profound unconsciousness in which an individual is incapable of sensing or responding to external stimuli.

Scientific definitions for coma (1 of 2)

coma 1
[ kō′mə ]

Plural comas

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.

Scientific definitions for coma (2 of 2)

coma 2
[ kō′mə ]

Plural comae (kō′mē)

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.). See more at comet.
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.

Cultural definitions for coma

coma
[ (koh-muh) ]

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.