coma¹ Definition
coma (kō′mə)
noun
- deep, prolonged unconsciousness caused by injury or disease
- a condition of stupor or lethargy
Etymology: ModL < Gr kōma (gen. kōmatos), deep sleep < IE base *keme-, to grow tired > Sans śamītē, to work, prepare, Gr kamatos, fatigue, effort
coma² Definition
coma (kō′mə)
noun pl. -·mae-mē
- Astron. a comet's gaseous cloud surrounding the solid nucleus and forming, with the nucleus, the comet's head
- a bunch of branches, as on the top of some palm trees
- a terminal cluster of bracts on a flowering stem, as in pineapples
- a tuft of hairs at the end of certain seeds
- Photog. a blur caused by the spherical aberration of oblique rays of light passing through a lens
Etymology: L, hair of the head, foliage < Gr komē, hair
coma Synonyms
coma Usage Examples
Converse of object
- induce: Very high doses can induce coma or unconsciousness or even death.
- cause: An overdose can cause coma, convulsions or death.
- include: The clinical features of excessive doses of opiates include coma of varying severity, small pupils and depressed respiration.
- enter: Two of the men on hunger strike in Harmondsworth are entering coma.
Adjective modifier
- hypoglycaemic: This precipitated a profound hypoglycaemic coma resulting in irreversible brain damage.
- diabetic: He once fell into a diabetic coma on the way home, on the bus.
- irreversible: Alternatively, should a relative be given the choice on behalf of their loved one if they fall into an irreversible coma?
- deep: He was now in an Israeli hospital in a deep coma from which he was not likely to regain consciousness.
Modifies a noun
- victim: Ignoring the deep psychological problems clearly in me, I did wonder whether coma victims feel like that.
- score: She was fully conscious with a Glasgow coma score of 15.
- scale: Review your knowledge of the Glasgow coma scale, and signs and symptoms of brain injury.
- patient: There are enough funny bits here to liven up a coma patient.
Noun used with modifier
- insulin: There was very little, and strictly controlled, use of ECT, and insulin coma therapy had gone for good.
- comet: STARDUST is the culmination of more than a decade's quest for a comet coma sample return mission.
Preposition: in
- hospital: This Year`s Girl: Faith, still in a coma in the hospital, is dreaming of being pursued by Buffy.
- film: A leading US neurologist has decried the portrayal of comas in films as being " unrealistic " .
Preposition: for
Browse dictionary entries near coma
- ‹ com-
- ‹ com
- ‹ colza
- ‹ coly
- ‹ colure
- ‹ columnist
- ‹ columniation
- ‹ column
- ‹ columella
- ‹ Columbus Day
- Coma Berenices ›
- comake ›
- Comanche ›
- comate ›
- comatose ›
- comatulid ›
- comb ›
- comb jelly ›
- combat ›
- combat fatigue ›

