COMMA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does comma mean? 

• COMMA (noun)
  The noun COMMA has 2 senses:

1. a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence

2. anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing

  Familiarity information: COMMA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMMA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A punctuation mark (,) used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("comma" is a kind of...):

punctuation; punctuation mark (the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

comma; comma butterfly; Polygonia comma

Hypernyms ("comma" is a kind of...):

brush-footed butterfly; four-footed butterfly; nymphalid; nymphalid butterfly (medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast)

Holonyms ("comma" is a member of...):

genus Polygonia; Polygonia (comma butterflies)

 Context examples 

"I grant that as authorities to quote they are most excellent—the two foremost literary critics in the United States. Every school teacher in the land looks up to Vanderwater as the Dean of American criticism. Yet I read his stuff, and it seems to me the perfection of the felicitous expression of the inane. Why, he is no more than a ponderous bromide, thanks to Gelett Burgess. And Praps is no better. His 'Hemlock Mosses,' for instance is beautifully written. Not a comma is out of place; and the tone—ah!—is lofty, so lofty. He is the best-paid critic in the United States. Though, Heaven forbid! he's not a critic at all. They do criticism better in England.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)