comaco‧ma /ˈkəʊmə $ ˈkoʊ-/ noun [countable, uncountable] 
Word Origin
He went into a coma and died soon afterwards.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe in a coma· His son had been in a coma for three and a half years.go into a coma· Mum went into a coma and died soon afterwards.slip/lapse/fall/sink into a coma (=go into one)· Brett slipped into a coma from which he never awakened.relapse into a coma (=go into a coma again)· She was making progress, but then she suddenly relapsed into a coma.come out of a coma (also emerge from a coma formal)· Alice wanted to be there when he came out of his coma.adjectivesa deep coma· After the accident, she spent ten days in a deep coma.an irreversible coma (=a permanent one)· He had been in an irreversible coma since the disaster.coma + NOUNa coma victim (=someone who is in a coma)· There are various techniques for helping coma victims to regain consciousness.a coma patient· a long-term coma patient
Word OriginWORD ORIGINcoma
ExamplesOrigin:
1600-1700 Modern Latin, Greek koma ‘deep sleep’EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- A woman is in love with a married man, whose wife is in a permanent coma.
- And sometimes no purposeful movements result, in which case we talk of deep coma.
- He was alert and neurologically normal with a Glasgow coma score of 14 on admission.
- He was unconscious by the time he arrived at hospital in Sanford and remained in a coma until he died.
- Into a coma, most likely.
- It was more, she blinked her eyes, as if roused out of a coma.
- Perhaps a coma, if worse came to worst.
- The 59-year-old star needed two life-saving operation to remove blood clots and was left in a deep coma after brain surgery.
Longman Language Activatorunconscious► unconscious
Collocations not able to see, hear, feel etc, usually for a short time, for example because you have taken a drug or been hit on the head: · There was a woman lying unconscious on the floor.· The unconscious man was carefully lifted onto a stretcher.
► be in a coma to be unconscious for a long time, because of a serious accident or illness: · Marina has been in a coma for the past four months.lie in a coma: · Jo Columbo lay in a coma, paralyzed by bullet wounds.
► be out cold especially spoken to be unconscious: · The other boxer was out cold.
► dazed almost unconscious for a short time, and often unable to move, because you have had a shock, been hit on the head etc: · When the realization hit her, she just sat there looking dazed.· I stumbled from the room dazed and confused, completely disoriented by what had just happened.
to become unconscious► lose consciousness to become unconscious, for example because you are seriously ill or because a doctor has given you a drug before an operation: · I remember looking down and seeing blood, and then I lost consciousness.· After Atkins collapsed and lost consciousness at work, she was sent to the hospital for a scan.
► faint to become unconscious so that you fall to the ground for a short time, for example because you are very hot or hungry: · One of the soldiers guarding the palace fainted in the heat.· I need to go outside. I feel as if I'm going to faint.· I must have fainted, and when I came to I didn't know where I was.
► pass out to become unconscious, usually for a short time, for example because you have had too much to drink, or because you cannot breathe properly: · When I first smoked a cigarette, I almost passed out.· I think the poor guy passed out. It looks like he's had a lot to drink.
► black out/have a blackout to become unconscious for a short time, usually without warning and for no clear reason: · Her father's been having blackouts, and the doctor has ordered a brain scan.· A man grabbed her and put a piece of cloth to her face. That's the last thing she remembers before blacking out.
► slip/sink/lapse/fall into unconsciousness to gradually become unconscious, especially because you are seriously ill or near to death - used especially in descriptions of events and in stories: · The patient slipped into unconsciousness at around 7 am.· She managed to say a few words before falling into unconsciousness again.
► slip/sink/lapse/fall into a coma to gradually become unconscious, and remain unconscious for a long time, because you are seriously ill or near to death: · The patient slipped into a coma, and died two days later.· After the accident she fell into a coma, and was on a life support machine for 6 months before regaining consciousness.
► collapse to fall and become unconscious, especially because you are very ill: · Come quickly, one of the passengers has collapsed.· After half a dozen glasses of whisky he collapsed and could not be revived.
WORD SETS► Illness & Disabilityabscess, nounache, verbache, nounacne, nounagoraphobia, nounagoraphobic, nounague, noun-aholic, suffixAIDS, nounailment, nounairsick, adjectivealbino, nounalcoholic, nounalcoholism, nounallergic, adjectiveallergy, nounamnesia, nounamputee, nounanaemia, nounanaemic, adjectiveangina, nounanorexia, nounanorexic, adjectiveantacid, nounanthrax, nounantibody, nounantidepressant, nounantidote, nounantigen, nounantihistamine, nounanti-inflammatory, adjectiveantitoxin, nounapoplectic, adjectiveapoplexy, nounappendicitis, nounarteriosclerosis, nounarthritis, nounaseptic, adjectiveaspirin, nounasthma, nounastigmatism, nounasymptomatic, adjectiveathlete's foot, nounatrophy, verbauto-immune disease, nounAyurvedic medicine, nounbaby blues, nounbacillus, nounbackache, nounbark, verbbattle fatigue, nounBCG, nounbedridden, adjectivebedsore, nounbed-wetting, nounbellyache, nounbenign, adjectiveberiberi, nounbespectacled, adjectivebetter, adjectivebilious, adjectivebinge, verbbiopsy, nounbirthmark, nounbite, verbbite, nounblack and blue, adjectiveBlack Death, the, black eye, nounblackout, nounbleed, verbbleeding, nounblind, verbblister, nounblister, verbblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood poisoning, nounbloodshot, adjectiveblood transfusion, nounbloody, adjectivebloody, verbblue baby, nounboil, nounbotulism, nounbrain damage, nounbreakdown, nounbronchitis, nounbruise, nounbruise, verbBSE, nounbubonic plague, nounbug, nounbulimia, nounbump, nounbunion, nounbuzz, verbcalloused, adjectivecallus, nouncancer, nouncandida, nouncanker, nouncarbuncle, nouncarcinogen, nouncarcinogenic, adjectivecarcinoma, nouncardiac, adjectivecardiovascular, adjectivecaries, nouncarpal tunnel syndrome, nouncarrier, nouncarry, verbcarsick, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncataract, nouncatarrh, nouncatatonic, adjectivecatching, adjectivecauliflower ear, nouncerebral palsy, nouncertify, verbcervical smear, nounchapped, adjectivecharley horse, nounchemotherapy, nounchesty, adjectivechicken pox, nounchilblains, nounChinese medicine, nouncholera, nounchronic, adjectivecirrhosis, nounCJD, nouncleanse, verbcleft palate, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclub foot, nouncold, nouncold sore, nouncolic, nouncolitis, nouncollapse, verbcolour-blind, adjectivecoma, nouncommon cold, nouncommon denominator, nouncommunicate, verbcomplaint, nouncomplicate, verbcomplication, nouncompound fracture, nounconcuss, verbconcussion, nouncondition, nouncongenital, adjectivecongested, adjectiveconjunctivitis, nounconstipation, nounconsumption, nounconsumptive, nouncontagion, nouncontagious, adjectivecontinent, adjectivecontract, verbcontusion, nounconvalesce, verbconvulsion, nouncorn, nouncortisone, nouncot death, nouncough, nounCPR, nouncrack-up, nouncramp, nounCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease, nouncrick, nouncrick, verbcripple, nouncripple, verbcross-eyed, adjectivecroup, nouncurable, adjectivecut, nouncyst, nouncystic fibrosis, nouncystitis, noundecompression sickness, noundeep vein thrombosis, noundeformity, noundegenerative, adjectivedehydrate, verbdelirious, adjectivedelirium, noundelusion, noundementia, noundengue fever, noundepression, noundermatitis, noundiabetes, noundiabetic, adjectivediabetic, noundiagnosis, noundialysis, noundiaper rash, noundiarrhoea, noundiphtheria, noundisability, noundisable, verbdisabled, adjectivedischarge, verbdisease, noundisgorge, verbdislocate, verbdisorder, noundissipated, adjectivedissipation, noundistemper, noundistend, verbdizzy, adjectivedoddering, adjectivedoddery, adjectivedonate, verbdonor, noundouble vision, noundoughy, adjectivedown, adverbDown's syndrome, noundrawn, adjectivedressing, noundrinker, noundrunk, adjectivedrunk, noundrunken, adjectivedull, adjectivedumb, adjectiveDVT, noundysentery, noundyslexia, noundyspepsia, noundyspeptic, adjectiveearache, nouneating disorder, nounEbola, nounectopic pregnancy, nouneczema, nounemaciated, adjectiveemasculate, verbembolism, nounemphysema, nounencephalitis, nounendoscope, nounenervate, verbenteritis, nounepidemic, nounepilepsy, nounepileptic, adjectiveepileptic, nounetiology, nounexcruciating, adjectiveexposure, nouneyeless, adjectiveeye strain, nounfail, verbfaint, nounfester, verbfever, nounfever blister, nounfevered, adjectivefeverish, adjectivefirst aid, nounfit, nounflat feet, nounflat-footed, adjectiveflu, nounfood poisoning, nounfoot and mouth disease, nounfracture, verbfracture, nounfrostbite, noungall, noungammy, adjectiveganglion, noungangrene, noungas, noungash, noungastric, adjectivegastritis, noungastroenteritis, nounGerman measles, nounget, verbgingivitis, nounglandular fever, nounglaucoma, noungnarled, adjectivegonorrhea, noungout, noungrand mal, noungraze, verbgraze, noungriping, adjectivegroggy, adjectivegrowing pains, noungrowth, noungush, verbgynaecology, nounhacking cough, nounhaemophilia, nounhaemophiliac, nounhaemorrhage, nounhaemorrhage, verbhaemorrhoids, nounhalitosis, nounhandicap, nounhandicapped, adjectivehangover, nounhard of hearing, adjectiveharelip, nounhay fever, nounheadache, nounhealth, nounheart attack, nounheartburn, nounheart disease, nounheart failure, nounheat exhaustion, nounheat rash, nounheatstroke, nounheave, verbhepatitis, nounhernia, nounherpes, nounHIV, nounhormone replacement therapy, nounhospital, nounhospitalize, verbhot flush, nounhousebound, adjectiveHRT, nounhump, nounhumpback, nounhunchback, nounhungover, adjectivehydrophobia, nounhypertension, nounhypothermia, nounhysterectomy, nounhysteria, nounhysterical, adjectiveillness, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nounimmunize, verbimmunology, nounimpacted, adjectiveimpediment, nounimpetigo, nounimpotent, adjectiveincision, nounincontinent, adjectiveincubate, verbincurable, adjectiveindigestion, nounindisposed, adjectiveindisposition, nouninfantile, adjectiveinfantile paralysis, nouninfect, verbinfected, adjectiveinfection, nouninfectious, adjectiveinfirmity, nouninflammation, nouninflammatory, adjectiveinfluenza, nouninfusion, nouningrowing, adjectiveinoculate, verbinoperable, adjectiveinsane, adjectiveinsanity, nouninsomnia, nouninsomniac, nouninstability, nounintensive care, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvalid, nouninvalidity, nouninvasive, adjectiveirregular, adjectiveirritable bowel syndrome, nounirritant, nounirritate, verbirritated, adjectiveirritation, noun-ism, suffixisolation, nounjaundice, nounjaundiced, adjectivejet lag, nounknock-kneed, adjectiveknotted, adjectivelaceration, nounlaryngitis, nounlegionnaire's disease, nounleper, nounleprosy, nounlesion, nounleukemia, nounlisp, nounlisteria, nounliverish, adjectivelockjaw, nounlong-sighted, adjectiveloose, adjectivelozenge, nounlumbago, nounlunacy, nounLyme disease, nounmad cow disease, nounmalady, nounmalaise, nounmalaria, nounmalformation, nounmalignancy, nounmalignant, adjectivemalnourished, adjectivemalnutrition, nounmange, nounmangy, adjectivemania, nounmanic, adjectivemanic depression, nounmastitis, nounME, nounmeasles, nounmedicinal, adjectivemegalomania, nounmegalomaniac, nounmelancholia, nounmelancholic, adjectivemelanoma, nounmend, verbmeningitis, nounmentally handicapped, adjectivemigraine, nounmild, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmole, nounmongol, nounmono, nounmononucleosis, nounmorbid, adjectivemorning sickness, nounmoron, nounmotion sickness, nounmotor neurone disease, nounMRI, nounMRSA, nounMS, nounmultiple sclerosis, nounmumps, nounmurmur, nounmusclebound, adjectivemuscular dystrophy, nounmute, adjectivemute, nounmyopia, nounmyopic, adjectivemyxomatosis, nounnarcolepsy, nounnausea, nounnauseate, verbnauseous, adjectivenearsighted, adjectivenervous breakdown, nounnettle rash, nounneuralgia, nounneurosis, nounneurotic, adjectivenosebleed, nounnotifiable, adjectiveNSU, nounobesity, nounoff-colour, adjectiveoperate, verboperation, nounophthalmic, adjectiveophthalmology, noun-osis, suffixosteoarthritis, nounosteopathy, nounosteoporosis, nounoutpatient, nounoverbite, nounpacemaker, nounpaediatrics, nounpale, adjectivepallid, adjectivepallor, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpalsy, nounpandemic, nounparalyse, verbparalysed, adjectiveparalysis, nounparalytic, adjectiveparalytic, nounparanoia, nounparaplegia, nounparaplegic, nounparasitic, adjectiveParkinson's disease, nounparoxysm, nounpasty, adjectivepasty-faced, adjectivepathogen, nounpathological, adjectivepathology, nounpeaked, adjectivepeaky, adjectivepellagra, nounpeptic ulcer, nounperforated, adjectiveperiod pain, nounperitonitis, nounpernicious anaemia, nounpersecution complex, nounpestilence, nounpestilential, adjectivepetit mal, nounpharyngitis, nounphlebitis, nounphlegm, noun-phobic, suffixphysiotherapy, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepins and needles, nounplacebo, nounplague, nounplaque, nounplaster cast, nounpleurisy, nounPMS, nounPMT, nounpneumonia, nounpockmark, nounpockmarked, adjectivepoisoning, nounpolio, nounpolyp, nounpoor, adjectivepost-traumatic stress disorder, nounpremenstrual tension, nounprescribe, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprickle, verbprickly heat, nounprognosis, nounprolapse, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprophylactic, nounprophylaxis, nounpsoriasis, nounpsychopath, nounpsychosis, nounpsychosomatic, adjectivepsychotic, adjectivepuffy, adjectivepull, verbpurulent, adjectivepus, nounpustule, nounqueasy, adjectiverabid, adjectiverabies, nounradiation sickness, nounradiography, nounrash, nounraw, adjectivereact, verbreaction, nounreceive, verbrecuperate, verbrecuperative, adjectiveregurgitate, verbrelapse, verbremission, nounrepetitive strain injury, nounresistance, nounrespond, verbretch, verbRhesus factor, nounrheumatic, adjectiverheumatic fever, nounrheumatism, nounrheumatoid arthritis, nounrickets, nounringworm, nounRSI, nounrubella, nounrun-down, adjectiverunny, adjectiverupture, nounsaddle-sore, adjectivesalmonella, nounscab, nounscabby, adjectivescabies, nounscald, verbscald, nounscaly, adjectivescar, nounscar, verbscarlet fever, nounschizophrenia, nounsciatica, nounsclerosis, nounscrape, verbscrape, nounscratch, nounscurvy, nounseasick, adjectiveseizure, nounself-examination, nounsenile, adjectivesenile dementia, nounsenseless, adjectivesepsis, nounseptic, adjectivesepticaemia, nounserum, nounset, verbsexually transmitted disease, nounshell shock, nounshell-shocked, adjectiveshingles, nounshock, nounshort-sighted, adjectivesickle-cell anaemia, nounsickly, adjectivesickness, nounside effect, nounsightless, adjectivesimple fracture, nounsleeping sickness, nounslipped disc, nounsmallpox, nounsnakebite, nounsnow blindness, nounsore, adjectivesore, nounspastic, adjectivespecial needs, nounspecimen, nounspina bifida, nounsprain, verbsputum, nounsquint, verbsquint, nounstammer, nounstarvation, nounstarve, verbSTD, nounstomachache, nounstone, nounstrain, nounstrain, verbstrangulated, adjectivestrep throat, nounstroke, nounsty, nounsuccumb, verbsufferer, nounsunstroke, nounsuperbug, nounsurgical, adjectiveswelling, nounswollen, adjectivesymptom, nounsymptomatic, adjectivesyndrome, nounsyphilis, nounTB, nountear, verbtetanus, nountherapeutic, adjectivetherapy, nounthrombosis, nounthrush, nountic, nountight, adjectivetingle, verbtinnitus, nountipsy, adjectivetonsillitis, nountoothache, nountorment, nountourniquet, nountoxaemia, nountoxic shock syndrome, nountraction, nountransfusion, nountrauma, nountravel sickness, nountreatment, nountremor, nountuberculosis, nountumour, nountunnel vision, nountwinge, nountwitch, nountyphoid, nountyphus, nounulcer, nounulcerate, verbultrasound, noununderweight, adjectiveundressed, adjectiveunhealthy, adjectiveuntreated, adjectivevaccinate, verbvaccine, nounvaricose veins, nounVD, nounvenereal disease, nounverruca, nounvertigo, nounviral, adjectivevirology, nounvirulent, adjectivevomit, verbvomit, nounwart, nounweak, adjectiveweal, nounweep, verbwheeze, verbwheeze, nounwheezy, adjectivewhiplash, nounwhooping cough, nounwind, nounwithered, adjectivewound, nounwrench, verbwriter's cramp, nounyaws, nounyeast infection, nounyellow fever, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs► be in a coma
someone who is in a coma has been unconscious for a long time, usually because of a serious illness or injurybe in/go into/come out of a coma· His son had been in a coma for three and a half years.
► go into a coma· Mum went into a coma and died soon afterwards.
► slip/lapse/fall/sink into a coma (=go into one)· Brett slipped into a coma from which he never awakened.
► relapse into a coma (=go into a coma again)· She was making progress, but then she suddenly relapsed into a coma.
► come out of a coma (also emerge from a coma formal)· Alice wanted to be there when he came out of his coma.
adjectives► a deep coma· After the accident, she spent ten days in a deep coma.
► an irreversible coma (=a permanent one)· He had been in an irreversible coma since the disaster.
coma + NOUN► a coma victim (=someone who is in a coma)· There are various techniques for helping coma victims to regain consciousness.
► a coma patient· a long-term coma patient
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► deep· And sometimes no purposeful movements result, in which case we talk of deep coma.· Soon after that she would lapse into sleep, then unconsciousness, then a state of deep coma.· He was in a deep coma.· The cat may even fall into a deep coma.· Dawn was in a deep coma, and was not responding to painful stimuli, although her pupils were not fixed.· The 59-year-old star needed two life-saving operation to remove blood clots and was left in a deep coma after brain surgery.
VERB► go· He went into a coma and died soon afterwards.· She went into a coma, and Dad and Roland drove back to the Northwest.· Voice over Mark fell on to the road with such force that he went into a coma from which he never recovered.· Late that night she went into a coma.· For a while there I thought you'd gone into a coma.· Diabetic, gone into a coma from low blood sugar.
► slip· Michael was already slipping into a coma after three hours in the cold seas.· But the genre always seems to slip back into a coma.· Two days later the former Enniskillen high school principal slipped into a coma from which he never awakened.· The elder Grant, 65, suffered a stroke that caused brain damage and slipped into a coma last week.· The afternoon is slipping under, into coma.· But then he took a sudden downturn and slipped into a coma.· He slipped into a coma, which lasted about four weeks.
He went into a coma and died soon afterwards.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe in a coma· His son had been in a coma for three and a half years.go into a coma· Mum went into a coma and died soon afterwards.slip/lapse/fall/sink into a coma (=go into one)· Brett slipped into a coma from which he never awakened.relapse into a coma (=go into a coma again)· She was making progress, but then she suddenly relapsed into a coma.come out of a coma (also emerge from a coma formal)· Alice wanted to be there when he came out of his coma.adjectivesa deep coma· After the accident, she spent ten days in a deep coma.an irreversible coma (=a permanent one)· He had been in an irreversible coma since the disaster.coma + NOUNa coma victim (=someone who is in a coma)· There are various techniques for helping coma victims to regain consciousness.a coma patient· a long-term coma patient