Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Kohoutek

American  
[koh-hoh-tek, kuh-] / koʊˈhoʊ tɛk, kə- /

noun

Astronomy.
  1. a comet that passed around the sun in late 1973 and early 1974 and was dimly visible with the naked eye.


Kohoutek British  
/ kəˈhuːtɛk /

noun

  1. a comet of almost parabolic orbit that reached its closest approach to the sun in Dec 1973

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Kohoutek

Named after Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek (1935–2023), who discovered it in February 1973

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The number of spacewalks was also doubled, to four, to observe a newly discovered comet, Kohoutek.

From BBC

For instance, Comet Kohoutek in 1973 was hyped as a potentially great sight - echoing longtime comparisons I’d always heard about Halley’s Comet.

From Washington Times

But Kohoutek was decidedly a fizzle; I don’t think I ever caught a glimpse of it.

From Washington Times

Mr. Bopp had never seen a comet before the summer of 1995, missing Halley’s in 1986 and the disappointing smudge of Comet Kohoutek in 1973.

From Washington Post

Kohoutek, who was 64, died a week later after his estranged brother decided to have him removed from life support.

From Washington Times