COMATOSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does comatose mean? 

• COMATOSE (adjective)
  The adjective COMATOSE has 2 senses:

1. relating to or associated with a coma

2. in a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness; unable to respond to external stimuli

  Familiarity information: COMATOSE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMATOSE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or associated with a coma

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

comatose state

Pertainym:

coma (a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury)

Derivation:

comatoseness (a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness; unable to respond to external stimuli

Context example:

a comatose patient

Similar:

unconscious (not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead)

Derivation:

comatoseness (a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury)

 Context examples 

In the hours that had passed, the fits of sleep, or the comatose condition that passed for it, had grown more frequent, so that the pauses when conversation was possible were shortened.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Comatose or barely arousable.

(Australia-Modified Karnofsky Performance Status 10, NCI Thesaurus)