1 coma | Definition of coma

coma

noun (1)
co·​ma | \ ˈkō-mə How to pronounce coma (audio) \

Definition of coma

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
2 : a state of mental or physical sluggishness : torpor

coma

noun (2)
plural comae\ ˈkō-​ˌmē How to pronounce comae (audio) , -​ˌmī \

Definition of coma (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a tufted bunch (as of branches, bracts, or seed hairs)
2 : the head of a comet consisting of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus
3 : an optical aberration in which the image of a point source is a comet-shaped blur

Other Words from coma

Noun (2)

comatic \ kō-​ˈma-​tik How to pronounce comatic (audio) \ adjective

First Known Use of coma

Noun (1)

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for coma

Noun (1)

New Latin, from Greek kōma deep sleep

Noun (2)

Latin, hair, from Greek komē

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for coma

coma

noun
co·​ma | \ ˈkō-mə How to pronounce coma (audio) \

Kids Definition of coma

: a condition resembling deep sleep that is caused by sickness or injury

coma

noun
co·​ma | \ ˈkō-mə How to pronounce coma (audio) \

Medical Definition of coma

: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on coma

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with coma

Spanish Central: Translation of coma

Nglish: Translation of coma for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of coma for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coma