1
: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
2
: a state of mental or physical sluggishness : torpor
plural comae
ˈkō-ˌmē 
-ˌmī
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
Examples of coma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2024
If blood sugars stay low for too long, the brain is starved of its energy source, and this can lead to seizures and coma.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2024
Symptoms begin with listlessness, irritability, and muscle weakness and may evolve, if not treated, to muscle twitching, seizures, and coma.
—Robert Burakoff, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2024
The next season of 9-1-1 picks up after the dramatic Season 7 finale, where Bobby, who survived a coma, tries to return to Station 118, only to find his spot taken by former Captain Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson), who came out of retirement.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coma 
Noun
In her new role, Havins will portray the young woman who has been in a coma in the soap opera since late 2020.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2024
If blood sugars stay low for too long, the brain is starved of its energy source, and this can lead to seizures and coma.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2024
Symptoms begin with listlessness, irritability, and muscle weakness and may evolve, if not treated, to muscle twitching, seizures, and coma.
—Robert Burakoff, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2024
The next season of 9-1-1 picks up after the dramatic Season 7 finale, where Bobby, who survived a coma, tries to return to Station 118, only to find his spot taken by former Captain Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson), who came out of retirement.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coma
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coma.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near coma
Cite this Entry
“Coma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coma. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coma
1 of 2 noun
co·ma
ˈkō-mə
: a sleeplike state of unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
coma
2 of 2 noun
plural comae
-ˌmē
-ˌmī
: the head of a comet made up of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus
Etymology
Noun
scientific Latin, from Greek kōma "deep sleep"
Noun
from Latin coma "hair," from Greek komē "hair" — related to comet
Medical Definition
coma
noun
co·ma
ˈkō-mə
: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
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